My name is Manny Figaro, and I was selected for the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy or CAYLA for short. I wanted to join the CAYLA program for the networking, to meet new people, and learn professional job skills. The program has delivered on all three of these things and more.
The CAYLA program gives 30 high school students summer jobs at various locations around the city. Some of the job sites are Asheville Fire Department, UNC-Asheville, and Home Trust Bank. The program helps students to develop leadership skills and to prepare for college through various activities and an end-of-year scholarship. During the summer, all of the students attend weekly workshops and community service activities that focus on teambuilding, communication, and other critical job skills. One of the workshops that I personally enjoyed was given by Dr. Calvin Kelly. His story was very inspirational and it showed how much you can accomplish if you work hard.
My CAYLA internship was at JB Media Group, an online marketing agency owned by Justin Belleme. During my internship I wrote blogs, met with various clients, and researched the traffic of different websites.
The interview below is from current CAYLA student Asia Porter and former CAYLA student Giovanni Figaro. Asia is a rising senior and this is her first year in the program. Her internship was at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. Giovanni is a student at UNCA and works in the City Finance Department. I chose to interview a CAYLA student so that other people could learn about a great program that is devoted to giving high school students a valuable work experience for their future careers.
Interview with current CAYLA student Asia Porter
Manny: Why did you join CAYLA?
Asia: I joined CAYLA because I have heard so much about this program and I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to get more involved in my community. I also wanted more job experience, and I wanted to network with people who may come in handy in the near future.
Manny: What did you expect when you found out where your internship would be? Were your expectations correct?
Asia: Honestly I thought the Asheville Chamber of Commerce was just a place for tourists and visitors to come and get information about Asheville. I was partially correct with that judgment. The Chamber encourages increased visitation to our town, but also supports local business and club membership as well.
Manny: Which Friday CAYLA workshop have you enjoyed the most? Why?
Asia: Friday activities were my favorite. My favorite activity would have to be going to the Montreat Team & Leadership Center. [The low-ropes course] was something I had never done before and it tested me in so many different ways and made me realize that patience is a very important aspect of leadership.
Manny: How has the CAYLA program helped you in school?
Asia: CAYLA almost gives me bragging rights. Being a CAYLA student is such a big deal because many people applied and “the best of the best” were chosen. (Can’t answer further until school comes back around)
Manny: What are some of the new things that you have learned at your internship so far? Have you learned any new skills?
Asia: I have learned more about Excel and other computer programs. I have also learned things about myself. I am not as much a people’s person like I have thought for years. I am not as bold as I thought, and it’s harder to hold conversation with people in higher authority (a little intimidating too). Also I would rather do office work than go out and talk and interact with strangers.
Manny: Who are some of the business leaders of Asheville that you have met through CAYLA?
Asia: I have had the absolute pleasure in working with Clark Duncan who has played a huge part in bringing businesses to the Asheville area. I have also had the pleasure in having a one on one [conversation] with the Mayor of Asheville and a County Commissioner K. Ray Bailey.
Manny: We have had many speakers come and talk to us, which one have you enjoyed the most and what did you take away from what they said?
Asia: Dr. Calvin Kelly* was my all time favorite and I will never forget him. His story was so inspirational and motivational that I too plan to finish undergrad sooner than four years. I’m willing to take classes during the summer before my freshman year and other summers and also during some breaks.
*Sometimes during the Friday workshops, speakers come in to talk to the CAYLA students. Dr. Calvin Kelly has a PhD in psychology and currently has his own practice. He earned his PhD in psychology at the young age of 24.
Interview with former CAYLA student Giovanni Figaro
Manny: Why did you join CAYLA?
Giovanni: I knew that the program would provide me with practical work experience and build up my social network. Both of these benefits have been invaluable in helping me to avail myself of other opportunities and stand out among my peers. The scholarship was also an important factor. College is by no means cheap, so $2,000 goes a very long way. I am also a big proponent of the service element of the program.
Manny: What are the two internships that you did?
Giovanni: The first internship I did was at the AB-Tech Business Incubator. There I learned all about what is involved in being an entrepreneur and how the Incubator provides assistance to those who are starting an enterprise. In addition to working in an office setting and meeting the businesses housed in the Incubator facility, I also got to work in some of the other facilities found on the AB-Tech Enka campus. The Bio Business Lab and the huge commercial kitchen provided me with additional enjoyable experiences and knowledge.
My second internship was at HomeTrust Bank. Much of my time there was spent interviewing individuals serving in all of the different capacities and gaining an understanding of all that goes on behind the scenes. Not only did I visit some of the actual banks, but also I enjoyed week-long visits to the various departments such as HR, IT, and Marketing. With each new location I was able to meet and lunch with one of the senior managers at the bank, including the CEO and President. Finally, my internship also involved some basic accounting and a presentation to the CEO at the conclusion of my stay.
Manny: What did you expect when you found out where your internship would be? Were your expectations correct?
Giovanni: I honestly did not know what to expect from the Business Incubator. I had never heard of it before and was not aware of what they did. That made the internship more exciting.
I expected the HomeTrust Bank internship to be very enlightening and rather challenging. I certainly learned a lot and had to put forth a lot of effort in order to come up with good interview questions, grasp all of the information I was receiving, and juggle all of the tasks I received.
Manny: What was the most exciting thing that happened at any of your CAYLA internships?
Giovanni: Giving a presentation in front of HomeTrust Bank’s CEO definitely got my heart pumping. I also really enjoyed working inside a real laboratory and helping the experimentation process.
Manny: What are some of the things that you learned in CAYLA that you have carried over to college and your job?
Giovanni: Learning how to interact with others in a professional setting, especially by email and over the phone, and has been very helpful. Learning to not be afraid to ask questions and to ask the right questions has also been extremely important in both my job and college career. I have also learned the importance of networking. Building connections with others comes with all sorts of benefits.
Manny: How would your high school experience have differed if you had not done CAYLA?
Giovanni: It helped me get back into the swing of things at school much quicker since I was still sharp mentally from the summer. I would not have been able to participate in as many volunteer opportunities.
Photo and Interview by Manny Figaro