Mentee Spotlight: Meet Summer Morrison
Curated & Edited by Lyra Yang of
StreetWise Partners
Published: September 3rd, 2026
Summer Morrison, a Spring 2026 StreetWise Bridge graduate in New York, received the Inspiration in Action Award sponsored by Mizuho in recognition of her outstanding commitment, enthusiasm, and growth throughout the 13-week program. Her mentor, Stevie, an alumna who returned to the program as a mentor and lead volunteer, described how determined Summer was to grow from every opportunity and build a better life for herself, as well as how inspiring it was to witness Summer’s progress and have the opportunity to guide her along the way.
In the Q&A below, Summer reflects on her career journey before and after joining StreetWise, the lessons that shaped her professional path, and the advice she hopes will inspire other job seekers.
What was your professional life or job search like right before you found StreetWise Partners? What were the biggest challenges or frustrations you were facing?
With a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a background in education and biotech, I found myself temping to pay the bills after moving to New York in 2022. As a result, ‘reception’ was at the top of my resume, and I found that those were the only positions I was being offered. After my guest services coordinator role was eliminated, I joined a certification program at the Borough of Manhattan Community College to study computer networking. My self-esteem was low and talking about my resume made me freeze with insecurity.
Summer (first left) at the Spring 2026 StreetWise Bridge graduation ceremony, August 2026.
Tell us about your mentor. What made your connection with them unique or special? What was the best piece of advice they gave you? How did the broader StreetWise Partners community support your growth?
Stevie is a brilliant, caring, and empathetic individual. Having been through the program herself, she understands firsthand the support, encouragement and understanding mentees might require while going through this process. Her enthusiasm and energy helped when I felt overwhelmed with life, class work, and StreetWise assignments; and I found myself able to complete all deliverables. She was open with me about the struggles she overcame, which helped me immensely.
The structured weekly workshops, in combination with regular deliverables, provided a framework to help me push through my self-doubt. Through guided sessions, I was able to begin refining my resume step-by-step, building confidence in my achievements along the way. Speed networking and mock interviews gave me practice speaking comfortably about my professional history and goals. The feedback I received helped reinforce my confidence in my abilities and training.
Tell us about your current role, your organization, and what you love about it. Looking back, how did Streetwise Partners and your mentor directly help you land this role?
I am currently preparing for my third computer networking certification, having already earned the first two. I am applying for jobs regularly, updating my resume and tailoring a cover letter for each role as needed. After recently connecting with an HR staff member at the MTA, I reached out to share that I submitted my application for a computer support position. They responded that they forwarded my information to the right team and will follow up with any updates. This action was a direct result of the StreetWise program! I look forward to securing my role in desktop support, then advancing my career within computer networking. This is the field that I can see myself staying in until retirement; it feels as though I joined StreetWise at exactly the right time in my life.
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other job seekers?
StreetWise is for you if you feel insecure, lost, or uncertain about how to go about launching your career transition. That being said, you do get out of the program what you put into it. If you make the time to go to the weekly meetings, work with your mentor, and put care into your weekly deliverables, you will graduate with solid experience in networking, interviewing and tailoring your resume for a specific job description.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
What made StreetWise special was the shift in how I view my own potential. I entered the program feeling defined by my recent setbacks, but I left feeling empowered by my trajectory. The genuine care, lack of judgment, and mutual support from both my mentor and the staff created a safe harbor where I could safely make mistakes, learn, and grow. Having Stevie in my corner, someone who had walked in my shoes and reached the other side, was a game changer. StreetWise didn't just help me build a better resume; it helped me rebuild confidence in my ability to achieve the goals I set.
💡Inspired by Summer's story? You can help the next generation of professionals build confidence, expand their networks, and create brighter futures.