Jasmeene Burton

What attracted you to the Keller Center?

I was interested in the public school alumni challenge hosted by Tiger Challenge in the Summer of 2018. I had never heard of design thinking before, and was interested to find how sociological methods could be used in social innovation.

How are you involved with the Keller Center?

I participated in Tiger Challenge with Team PSA.

What do you appreciate most about the Keller Center?

I appreciate the personal development that we undertook as a part of our Tiger Challenge programming. While I thought the summer was going to be about designing change for the community, it was also about reflecting on the ways that we wanted to design for ourselves.

Share an inspiring story about your time at the Keller Center.

I loved interviewing the many stakeholders that we interviewed to improve the NYC Department of Education's p.s. alumni initiative. One interviewee told us about her personal struggles in navigating college a as a first-generation, low-income student. This interview involved such deep personal emotions and incredible circumstances, and I remember being so in awe and honored that this brave woman would share her experiences so candidly upon just having met me a hour ago.

What advice would you have for students about getting involved at the Keller Center?

I would say to keep your mind open to all the things that will be provided and embrace everything because everything really is what you make it. The workshops and the staff are as helpful as you need them to be, if you are attentive, engaged, and actively seek to make use of them.

How have you benefited from your involvement with the Keller Center?

Working with the Keller Center gave me a space and time to reflect upon my progress through Princeton, and helped me to refine the goals I had going into senior year. Being clear with these goals helped me to choose between different job offers and helped make my final semesters at Princeton most fulfilling as I chose how to spend my time.

What are your academic or career goals?

I hope to go into education administration or education policy in the future. In the next few years, I'll be going to grad school for education, and I am debating whether to pursue a doctoral degree or a law degree.