Our fifth session of Ready, Set, Connect! kicked off on September 20. Wendy Chen, the Teen Outreach Librarian for Oakland Public Library, was involved in the selection process. It was highly competitive, with over 80 applicants for 20 positions. Here’s what Wendy has to say about the program.
Have you ever run into a situation where you asked yourself, “What was I doing when I was their age?” This was the question I asked myself when I finished an interview panel for the Ready, Set, Connect! (RSC) program. The program is a partnership between the Oakland Public Library and Community Technology Network where young adults ages 16 – 24 are given professional development training and the opportunity to gain professional experience by working as computer tutors for Oakland Public Library, helping to bridge the digital divide in our community.
After the interview panel, I couldn’t wait to tell everyone about the amazing young people I met and interviewed. This year, we have a highly diverse group of applicants. Some are shy, while some are more outspoken. Some were born and raised in Oakland, while some are young immigrants from various parts of the world. Some are building solid foundations toward their future career through involvements in various extracurricular activities, while some are still trying to figure things out. But they all have two things in common: the determination to improve themselves and the passion to give back to the community.
Looking at such a diverse group of youth as new members of the RSC team, I am so excited for our community that will benefit and learn so much from the help of these thoughtful, passionate, and excellent individuals. I am also looking forward to the opportunity to witness their growth, accompany them as they help to solve the digital divide in our community, and assist them in gaining knowledge and experience that will help them succeed in their future endeavors.
We would like to thank Yahoo Employee Foundation for supporting this program!
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