Manoushka Adam is in her second year at People’s Prep. After graduating from William Paterson University with her bachelor’s degree in sociology, Manoushka worked in Harlem, NY for two years as a Citizen Schools Teaching Fellow before joining the Wolfpack. She is the teaching assistant for the Internship Program.

At People’s Prep Charter School, we take pride in preparing all of our students to graduate from the college of their choice as informed, involved and resilient citizens we know they can be. As the Internship Teaching Assistant, I am continuously looking to partner with companies and organizations within Newark who are committed to providing our students with an opportunity that will enhance their high school careers and prepare them for the future. Currently, People’s Prep partners with over 30 different organizations, including NJPAC, City Hall- Departments of Information Technology and Law, and Newark Public Library.

Supporting the interns with their year-long internships allows me to witness our students become involved in their community. The soft skills that our students learn at their internships (like interview skills, time management, and self-reliance) are valuable experiences that they will carry with them as they continue high school, attend college, and transition into to the workforce.

The work that I do here at PPCS helps diminish the opportunity gap. I am able to provide my students with opportunities that did not exist for me as a young girl who attended a small public school with minimal resources. Being a part of the PPCS family allows me to push our students to take advantage of the amazing opportunities presented to them. As early as their freshman year in high school, our students are exposed to the work environment through internships, job shadowing, Career Day, and more. This exposure helps develop our students into future leaders.

I take pride in being able to see our interns incorporate the skills they learn about time management, networking, or taking initiative into the tasks they perform at their internship placement or in class. Providing our students with access to internships, college tours, extracurricular activities, and other learning opportunities allow our students to be competitive with those who come from schools who offer similar or more advanced programs. It is through these additional opportunities and support that we can ensure the success of our students in high school, college, and beyond.