Meet our Cristo Rey interns!

For the 2018-2019 school year, we’re joined by two fantastic interns from Cristo Rey High School! Through Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program, students are paired with local companies based on interests and skill sets, and work one day each week, gaining crucial hands-on, professional work experience.

Anel, who likes to be called A.J., grew up in Milwaukee and is a junior at Cristo Rey. In her past two years of participating in the Corporate Work Study Program, she had internships at  Johnson Controls and HellermanTyton. “It’s a fun experience, and you get to meet new people,” A.J. said. “I get to learn things: not a lot of people can say they got to work at jobs like these.”

A.J. likes having the opportunity to work for a smaller, mission-driven organization like SecureFutures. She’s also learned a lot about financial responsibility, and is making different choices about how to manage her money. After some conversations with SecureFutures staff, Anel started keeping a journal to track her spending. She’s proud that she’s now been able to start saving and has a weekly budget. “I’ve definitely picked up on a few things!” A.J. said. “Every time I had a check, I spent it all. Now me and my mom set a plan. I was saying for so long that something had to change. Now it’s finally clicked.”

A.J. hasn’t started applying to colleges yet, but is interested in philosophy, psychology and criminal justice.

Ricardo is a freshman at Cristo Rey, so SecureFutures is his first job placement through the Corporate Work Study Program. He’s still learning about what might interest him for a future career, but his favorite class is physical science. He grew up in Milwaukee and Mexico, and now lives on Milwaukee’s south side. When he’s not in school or working at SecureFutures, he likes listening to music, mostly rap as well as some Mexican artists.

Welcome to SecureFutures, A.J. and Ricardo!