The world of postsecondary education can be highly competitive, and I was advised that to advance (in the next 5 years or so), I’d likely need a doctorate. But instead of pursuing that path, I shifted into the nonprofit sector, where I was excited to have a direct impact. I became the Senior Program Manager of the Adolescent Health Division at the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies—and I loved it. This role allowed me to work on health outcomes for young people while using education as a tool for change. It was a dream job.

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In this role, I worked to improve health education in middle and high schools by placing passionate educators in classrooms across the greater New Orleans area to teach comprehensive sex education using evidence-based curricula. I trained them not only in curriculum delivery but also in soft skills and professional development to make them stronger professionals overall. We held monthly “enrichment sessions,” because I firmly believe that everyone has something valuable to teach.

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Beyond the classroom, we also partnered with school administrators and social workers to embed sex education in schools in a sustainable way. Our educators were so committed that many teachers requested training and resources to continue the work after our program ended. Unfortunately, due to the nature of federally funded initiatives, we weren’t renewed after three years. But even in those few years, I saw the lasting impacts we were beginning to instill in the community and our schools.