2007 Fellows
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Cindy San Pedro del Rosario
University of California – Berkeley, 2007
Major(s): Mathematics & History
Everyone repeatedly warned Cindy, “You’re going to want to stay in New York City forever” before she left her hometown of Elk Grove, California. After a week of being in the Big Apple, she agreed, “Uh-oh. They’re all right!” At Scholastic, Cindy worked in Corporate Research under Director Heather Carter. She used her background in research in her departmental projects, which included summarizing survey data and discussing market research methodology. This exposure led to her fine-tuning her existing interests and discovering new ones. She soon fell in love with Scholastic’s culture and mission. Through assessments, meetings, and feedback, Cindy found that many people at the company cared about her personal and professional development. Cindy had the opportunity to meet with former teachers at Scholastic, as well as read new teachers’ responses on marketing surveys. Because of these interactions, Cindy now wants to teach children in grades Kindergarten through 6th after graduation. Cindy advises current and future Fellows to “be a sponge” day in and day out—soak it all in!
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Sarah English
Babson College, 2008
Major(s): Entrepreneurship
Sarah English worked in Library Marketing in 2006, and then went on to work in Trade Books under Andrea Pinkney in 2007. Both of her summers were packed with long-lasting lessons and memories, such as the Fellows’ fact-finding trip to New Orleans and meeting with Senior Vice President of Education and Corporate Relations, Dr. Ernest Fleishman. During the meeting with Dr. Fleishman, Sarah was inspired to combine her love for education, children, and literature through teaching kids who need the most help. Sarah now hopes to teach at a summer program in New York City after she graduates in 2008. She plans to receive her master’s degree in Public Health and hopes to start a homeless center one day. Sarah feels that the fellowship helped to professionally prepare her in articulation, open-mindedness, and confidence. She also credits the program with improving her teamwork, people, and leadership skills. Sarah advises current and future Fellows to “not be afraid of the unknown. Be diligent and put forth the best effort in every assignment, no matter how small it may seem. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remain respectful and honest with everyone, and most importantly, yourself.”
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Gillian Levinson
University of Pennsylvania, 2008
Major(s): English & Communications
Hailing from Marlboro, New Jersey, Gillian Levinson sub-matriculated in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania while still in the Undergraduate program, where she double majored in English and Communications. In five years time, Gillian hopes to be completing her Ph.D., and in 10 years to be a professor. Gillian worked for Gabrielle Balkan in Trade Paperbacks during her summer at Scholastic. That summer Gillian thought carefully about what she looks for in a profession, fine-tuning her interests and exploring her options. The greatest lesson she learned from the fellowship was the value of teamwork. Gillian remarks, “the Fellowship is all about learning to work as a team, which means putting your own wants aside for the sake of the larger group.” In the midst of departmental assignments and the group project, the Fellows attended the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall, an experience Gillian will never forget. Rendered speechless by the immense talent of the recipients, Gillian was happy “to see firsthand what Scholastic can do for the betterment of the community…the experience made [her] proud to work for the company.” She encourages current and future Fellows to “read everything…at Scholastic. Books are everywhere!”
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Raisa Reyes
University of Pennsylvania, 2008
Major(s): Comparative Literature
Raisa Reyes interned in the Book Club division on Club Leo under Cynthia Maloney. During her summer at Scholastic, Raisa closely examined her professionalism and career goals. Leaving the fellowship, Raisa felt that she could “step forward more confidently.” Her most memorable experience as a Fellow occurred during a Fellows’ project meeting that she co-led with another Fellow. Although they had a tight time constraint, they divided and conquered. The meeting ran smoothly and efficiently. Raisa was “reassured to know [she] could count on the Fellows, distribute the work load accordingly, and perform well under pressure.” She also learned to “work with what [she’s] given.” She now understands the importance of doing what it takes to “get the job done.” If Raisa could change anything about her summer as a Fellow, the New Yorker would do more financial planning before getting her first paycheck. She advises current and future Fellows to “speak up and do so honestly. Be open-minded and embrace constructive criticism. Always remember being busy is better than being bored.”
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Candace Wells
Northwestern University, 2009
Major(s): Journalism & African-American Studies
Candace Wells hails from New Jersey and has always loved to write. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree, Candace plans to attend either graduate or law school. In between her journalism and African-American studies classes, she also enjoys engaging in one of her all-time favorite pastimes—creating hairstyles. In the next five-to-10 years, Candace sees herself pursuing this passion by attending cosmetology school. During her summer at Scholastic, Candace interned for Arthur Levine and honed her teamwork skills through her role in the Fellows’ summer project. Candace quickly realized the difference between academic and professional worlds. She believes that it is important to draw from academic knowledge and experience, but learn to apply these lessons to the work environment. Candace’s most memorable experience as a Fellow was the Executive Roundtable with Senior Vice President of Global Operations and Information Technology, Beth Ford. Candace found Ms. Ford to be an exemplary model of success, and was struck by her humility, determination, and resilience. Candace encourages all Fellows to “learn and absorb all that you can” because there’s always room to grow!
