Growing up with a single mother, and as a bisexual Mexican American, Jaelyn recognized from a very young age she would face unique challenges. She struggled with her identity and kept her sexuality to herself for the first part of her life.

Because of this, Jaelyn was an extremely shy and self-critical child. She was often afraid to speak to her teachers, which affected her education.
Jaelyn, dressed in a bright yellow top and formal dress pants, looked down and said, “I always used to suffer in silence. Sometimes, it felt like a world that is stacked against me.”
When she got to high school, she longed to find a community of students from diverse backgrounds. That’s what brought her to the Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates (JAG) class at Tonopah Valley High School.
“Everyone in the program are all different types of people,” Jaelyn said. “I thought ‘Maybe there is a space for me.’”
The JAG Career and College Success System course, funded in part by Valley of the Sun United Way and our donors, is a high school elective course focused on interactive learning through career-focused projects and 1-1 mentorship to help youth address challenges they face both inside and outside of school – all while acknowledging their unique lived experiences.
“Not all of our students have access to essential resources and mentorship,” said Dawn Gerundo, Community Development & Engagement Director of Education at United Way. “JAG provides them the opportunity to explore what their career path could be. We know when they leave JAG, they will have tools in their back pocket when making important decisions.”
JAG helps students develop integral skills needed to succeed once they graduate, such as public speaking and creative decision making. The program has a graduation rate of 99% and a post-graduate employment rate of 80%.
“We work to make sure we understand what industries in Arizona need,” said Marjorie DeRubeis, President & CEO of Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates. “We provide students with the personal, professional and academic skills to succeed after graduation. We are so proud of the impact we’ve had, not only on schools, but on their communities.”
Jaelyn is one of the nearly 2,000 students who have participated in the program.
“Because of JAG, I was able to build my confidence,” Jaelyn said. “I learned how to present to people that I don’t even know at career fairs. I know how to write a resume and cover letter. My JAG mentor didn’t make me feel dumb for not knowing, instead she just helped.”
Jaelyn’s relationship with her JAG mentor is one of the most fundamental elements of her journey.

“She’s very confident, and it’s something that I admire,” Jaelyn said. “It’s more than her just helping me in class, she’s like a friend. She taught me how to step out of my comfort zone. Without her support, I don’t think I would be here right now.”
Through the skills she learned from the class and her mentor, Jaelyn transformed.
Her study skills and time-management improved, and she was able to leave an abusive relationship and come out as bisexual – something she was afraid to do due to her identity as a young Latina.
“JAG helped me take pride in who I am and my heritage,” Jaelyn said. “For years, I was terrified to say it. JAG helped me come out by surrounding me with people who make me feel seen. I no longer need to shape shift. JAG helped me take my life back.”
Not only did she make strides in her personal life, but Jaelyn also advanced educationally. She earned first-place recognition for Prepared Speaking at the National Career Development Conference.
“I was always so self-critical, so when I won, it was unbelievable,” Jaelyn said. “I didn’t think winning first place would be fit for someone like me. It’s the positive attitude from the JAG family that keeps me going.”
Jaelyn’s experience through JAG is an example of how transformative community support can be for local youth.
“Hearing Jaelyn’s story is one that brings you to tears,” Marjorie said. “She has embraced what JAG can do for her. From being someone who isn’t sure of themselves, to someone who is proud of who they are, the transformation is remarkable.”
Jaelyn hopes to enter the legal field one day, a dream she has had since she was a little girl. Through her experiences in the JAG class, it’s a dream that is now on the path to reality. Jaelyn is now entering her senior year, but not before making headway in her future career. Through JAG, she was able to apply for an Arizona State University Summer Program for aspiring lawyers.
“I witnessed firsthand with my family that they didn’t have the resources to go to college, or even graduate high school,” Jaelyn said with a beaming smile on her face. “But I’m blessed to have the resources to do so. This program is so much more than just grades; it helps you find who you are. I want to break barriers. It’s true, JAG has changed my life!”