Mauren Gomez

"Because of what my YPIE Career Connections Coach taught me, I came in with confidence, and I got an offer."

• Saunders Trades & Technical High School

• Lehman College, Economics and Mathematics, Class of 2027

• Risk Management Intern, Webster Bank, Summer 2026

• YPIE Mentors: Raissa Fitzgerald (College Success Advisor), Alexa Dalbis (Career Connections Advisor), Bruce (Career Connections Mentor), David (Webster Bank Mentor)

How did you first come to join YPIE?

I first joined YPIE in 2018, my freshman year of high school. I attended Saunders High School and studied architecture. Our guidance counselor told us about YPIE at an orientation meeting.

What are some of your favorite YPIE experiences?

YPIE helped me especially with test-taking. I was not a good test taker, and YPIE's testing strategies, tutoring, studying, and prep were so helpful. I was always a good student who did well in class, but YPIE helped me prepare for those exams.

YPIE also gave me the opportunity to participate in after-school experiences like Debate and Film. In Film, we created and acted in a short film about seasonal depression.

Tell us about your college journey.

My first semester was at SUNY Potsdam. I went there because I wanted to be more creative. I play guitar, and I chose Potsdam for its music program. But I didn't fit in as a city boy from the Bronx. Academically, I lost focus and didn't do well.

When I came home, I started working with my YPIE College Success Advisor, Raissa Fitzgerald. She helped me transfer to Westchester Community College so I could improve my GPA and move forward. Raissa connected me with one of the major guidance counselors at WCC and made my transition so easy.

Raissa kept me focused throughout college. We scheduled meetings to discuss my courses and progress, and she helped me learn how to work with college professors and be vocal about what I needed.

She also helped me complete my TAP application and all my other financial aid forms early. The moment it opened up, I was one of the first people to get everything done because of Raissa pushing me to stay on top of it.

I graduated with my associate degree in December 2024.

How did YPIE continue to support you throughout college?

With Raissa's help, I researched transfer programs and was accepted into Lehman College's ACE (Accelerate, Complete, Engage) Program.

I continued studying Economics at Lehman after beginning the major at WCC, and I loved it. I also started taking Mathematics classes.

I'm looking forward to graduating in the spring of 2027 with my bachelor's degree in Economics and Mathematics.

How did YPIE help you prepare for your career?

After one year at Lehman, I started working with Alexa Dalbis through the YPIE Career Connections program.

Alexa introduced me to Bruce, a Senior Associate in Private Equity Consulting at PwC. Like me, Bruce is a person of color. He gave me invaluable advice on how to enter the financial world while maintaining my own personality and point of view, and not alter myself for corporate America.

We met on Zoom to talk about my career, my interests, how to improve my resume, and interview tips for the finance world. He helped me understand how to display my capabilities while still maintaining who I am and expressing myself properly.

Bruce was my big-time YPIE career coach, and I will always be grateful to him.

Because of the YPIE Career Connections program, I was able to apply for an internship at Webster Bank. Alexa personally reached out to me about the Webster Bank opportunity and introduced me to David Isaac, another YPIE supporter and volunteer who worked at Webster. David helped me learn more about the opportunity and the application process. After three rounds of interviews, I got an offer.

Tell us about your internship at Webster Bank. What kind of work did you do, and what did you enjoy most?

As part of the Operational Risk Management team, I helped with risk assessments for the bank and supported the team's work through data and technology.

I learned more advanced Excel skills, became familiar with Python coding, and learned to use other Microsoft applications.

I also really enjoyed the diversity at Webster and the Business Resource Groups (BRGs), which provide support for people of color and people with disabilities.

It took me some time to adjust to a 9-to-5 schedule, but eventually I locked in. I also learned how important it is to make time outside of work for the things you enjoy.

What advice would you give to high school and college students?

Stay on top of things and commit to being active both in the classroom and in campus activities and clubs. Part of being a strong candidate for a job is demonstrating what you did in the classroom and through campus organizations that relate to your major. Be part of the campus community and stay connected to what you want to do career-wise.

This fall, I'll be a senior at Lehman, and I'm part of Lehman's Financial Learning Group. I'm also involved with ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) and the National Association of Black Accountants.

Will you maintain your connection with YPIE?

Absolutely.

I'm now working with Alexa and plan to volunteer with YPIE students to help make sure they are prepared for college. For example, we've planned a Jeopardy-style game where students answer college preparation questions and see how much they know.

What do you envision as your eventual career?

I hope to get into wealth management and work with high-net-worth individuals, helping them manage their finances. I'm also seeking roles in financial technology and data science.

Hear from Mauren in this video.