HAILEY WASHINGTON – INSPIRED BY JA, INSPIRING TO EVERYONE
Hailey, a recent Wethersfield High School graduate, is poised for a remarkably bright future.
Author: Junior Achievement of Southwest New England
Work Readiness
Published:
Monday, 29 Jul 2024
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Image caption: Hailey Washington speaking as MC for JA's 2024 Business Hall of Fame Ceremony
Hailey Washington is going places.
As many experienced when she served as the Master of Ceremonies at our Business Hall of Fame ceremony in April, Hailey, a recent Wethersfield High School graduate, is poised for a remarkably bright future. And, as she shared that evening, her deep history with Junior Achievement played a significant role in her growth.
Starting in 3rd grade, Hailey participated in a JA in a Day program on entrepreneurship and with her classmates, she spent the day imagining, planning and even creating a 3D model of a restaurant.
Fast forward to last summer, Hailey took part in the JA Be Entrepreneurial Challenge with Smith Brothers Company in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford. Through that program, Hailey and her teammate heard from people in all positions at the company and learned key steps to again create their own business. In this challenge, Hailey and her “business partner” spent the remaining weeks of the program planning their own mobile barbershop and then, got to present their idea to a panel of judges as well as the other teens in the program.
Image caption: Hailey presenting at JA Be Entrepreneurial Challenge with Smith Brothers Company in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford.
Fast forward to last summer, Hailey took part in the JA Be Entrepreneurial Challenge with Smith Brothers Company in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford. Through that program, Hailey and her teammate heard from people in all positions at the company (which company?) and learned key steps to again create their own business. In this challenge, Hailey and her “business partner” spent the remaining weeks of the program planning their own mobile barbershop and then, got to present their idea to a panel of judges as well as the other teens in the program.
Finally, this spring, Hailey participated in JA’s Career Connections for Young Women program and over a 10-week period, she heard from dozens of powerful speakers, all of whom were women in fields like management, law, healthcare, business and STEM. The speakers provided sound advice, information about jobs, and different perspectives on what it is like to work in their field. They also provided clear steps on how to progress up to top positions including multiple classes on how to build a resume, networking, money-management, investing and how to maintain good credit.
Hailey came away from these experiences committed to a career in medicine and with a clear plan to make that future a reality. The next step for Hailey will be at Trinity College in Hartford, where she will start classes this fall. And, we’re so pleased to share that this key next step on our path will be supported by the Junior Achievement of Southwest New England Scholarship – awarded annually to a senior who actively participated in JA programs while demonstrating exceptional leadership, teamwork, and academic achievement - which Hailey received in late June!
Image caption: Hailey Washington is poised for a bright future
As she shared as the MC at the Hall of Fame and again in remarks she delivered to JA’s board of directors upon receiving her scholarship, Hailey is thankful to everyone involved in JA programs for shaping her into the young woman she is today and for preparing her for such a bright future. What an inspiration Hailey is to all she meets.
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