Laura Esteves

“I really thought my world would end in my first year of college, but the guidance I got through YPIE put me where I am today.”

• Roosevelt High School (2021)

• Baruch College, Business Communications (2025)

• Business Analyst, Spectrum - Field Operations

• YPIE Mentors: Doris Freedman (College Advisor), Jaclyn Cooke (College Success Advisor)

When did you first start working with YPIE?

I come from an immigrant family that knew nothing about applying to college. I joined YPIE in my junior year and would have been lost without my YPIE advisor. She helped me with college selection, admissions, and financial aid, made sure I enrolled in SAT prep, and paired me with a college essay coach.

I encouraged my younger brother to join, too. I told him, “No one’s going to counsel you better for college than YPIE.” Our family owes a lot to YPIE.

How did YPIE support you in college?

Jaclyn, my YPIE college success advisor, advised me throughout Baruch College. My first year was really difficult, especially after virtual learning during COVID. I was failing almost all my classes and really thought my world would end.

Jaclyn connected me to tutoring and helped me rethink my path. She saw my strengths. I was doing well in communications classes, and she encouraged me to switch my major to corporate communications.

As a creative person, I loved those classes. With her help, I graduated on time. She really changed my life.

How did that experience shape your career path?

My immigrant family expected me to find a career after college that would be profitable, professional, and stable. YPIE and Baruch opened me up to this whole new world of business communications.

Jaclyn introduced me to the CUNY Career Launch program, where I got my first internship at a healthcare startup, Caraway Health. After that, I gained the confidence to keep applying for other internships and to position myself as a strong candidate even in spaces I once felt intimidated by. Each experience helped me develop new skills, build my network, and better understand where I fit in the professional world. 

Without college and YPIE's help, I don’t know where I’d be today.

What are you doing now in your career?

After graduating, I completed a paid internship with Spectrum and was offered a full-time role. I first joined the field operations rotational program, shadowing teams in the field before joining my team as a business analyst supporting field service operations.

I help introduce new company-wide initiatives into the field and make sure field technicians are well-informed. Because of my creative interests, I also create videos for technicians on new launches and processes.

I really enjoy the team, the company, and the industry.

Was there a moment when YPIE made a critical difference for you?

Yes. During my last semester, I was interning unpaid at a PR agency, and they offered me the opportunity to stay on after graduation. At the same time, Spectrum called me to interview for a paid internship, and I wasn’t sure what to do.

Jaclyn gave me really clear advice. She told me to stay at the PR internship, but if I got the paid offer from Spectrum, to take it and give notice.

That advice was so valuable, and it put me where I am today.

Do you still stay connected to YPIE?

Yes. I’ve gone back for events and networking mixers and have connected YPIE students with contacts at Spectrum. I really want to pay my experience forward and be a resource for students.

What advice would you share with YPIE students?

Put yourself out there, even if it feels uncomfortable. You’re going to get rejected, but you won’t progress unless you go through the job search process, apply, and keep going.

While you’re in college, don’t just take classes. Get involved in clubs or experiences that connect you to your field. I joined the American Marketing Association and was part of the creative and PR  committees, which gave me great experience.

Also, find ways to build meaningful experiences outside the classroom, including volunteering. I always talked about my involvement with YPIE in interviews, and it made a positive difference.

What are your goals for the future?

I’d like to continue growing at Spectrum and eventually move into Marketing or our Advertising solutions. I have a creative mindset, and there are opportunities here for me to keep building my career.

“You won’t progress unless you put yourself out there. Find the right people to guide you when you need it—and when you can, pay it forward.”

Hear from Lauren in this video.