Jesly Vargas is a senior at Hunter College studying human biology. She first became a Bridge Coach in 2021 at her alma mater, Lyons Community School in Brooklyn, and today she’s in her third year coaching – now at Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts in Manhattan. This year, Jesly has also stepped into a new role as CARA’s Bridge Program Intern, bringing her creativity and experience to support the next cohort of coaches.
Coaching at both her former high school and now at Repertory has given Jesly perspective on the different challenges students face. “At Lyons, a lot of students limited themselves to CUNYs, or didn’t apply at all because they just didn’t know what else was out there,” she says. “At Rep, I’ve had students apply to NYU, Cornell, schools outside of New York. And they feel confident that they can go somewhere – that’s so different to see.”
Jesly’s journey at CARA hasn’t been straightforward. After her first year as a coach, she stepped away to try retail, hoping to be in a job that paid more and felt like a “real world job.” But through it, she realized that what she thought she’d find in retail – professionalism, transferable skills, and structure – she was already developing through CARA. “Working at CARA has definitely shown me how to work with people,” she says. “It’s helped me become more professional in building relationships with adults, and introducing myself without being nervous.”
Through her time as a coach, Jesly says she’s also grown into a leader – one she never knew she was – who can set boundaries, speak up in new environments, and be there for students when they need encouragement. “When my students are having a hard day, I try to make them laugh,” she says. “Everyone needs that sometimes.”
As an intern, Jesly is excited to use her love of graphic design and creativity to update training materials and make them more engaging. “Trainings are long days and the way the content is presented can make or break the experience. I want to make sure the slides help coaches stay focused and feel connected to what they are learning.”