Moorea Colby '10

Moorea Colby ’10, was inspired by Pike’s motto Non Sibi Solum to work as a youth counselor. She had the opportunity to work in New York City working as an Intake Counselor for The Door, a comprehensive youth development services center that empowers young people from 12 to 21 to reach their potential in a diverse and caring environment. In her role, Colby welcomes and orients new members, and conducts interviews and assessments while providing referrals to various enrichment programs.

How did Pike inspire you to work with young people in need? The young people at The Door come from diverse backgrounds. They are incredibly intelligent, insightful, and resilient. My love of Pike’s motto, Non Sibi Solum, encouraged my volunteering and helping others. I was definitely aided by a Pike education which constantly encouraged volunteer trips, food drives, and other projects to better others.

Did Pike give you a solid foundation for other educational experiences? Pike gave me an incredible educational background; in particular, I felt incredibly prepared by the English, history, and world language programs. I found that when I went to high school my writing abilities were honed to a level far beyond that of my peers. My strong world language foundation at Pike also allowed me to excel in both Spanish and Latin in high school, reaching the AP level in both languages. In fact, Pike inspired my love of Spanish so much that it is my second major at Barnard alongside psychology.

Was there a distinct time that inspired you to pursue a career in counseling? I was not sure of the specific career path I wanted until a few years ago, but before that I always knew I wanted to pursue a career helping people. I have always loved being there for others, through both volunteering and being a strong support system for my friends and family. I eventually realized I would be able to do that daily as a counselor.

What advice would you give to young students who show an interest in pursuing a career in social work or helping people? The most important skill is to be a good listener. There were intakes in which young people were not willing to receive any help, which could be frustrating when I wanted to help them and refer them to various services that The Door offered. However, I was often reminded that giving a young person the space, patience, and time to share his or her own story in a non-judgmental setting is an incredible gift. Being able to listen to others’ stories without instantly bringing the topic back to you or giving unsolicited advice can go a long way.

What was is the most rewarding aspect of your job at The Door? Most challenging? Rewarding intakes were the ones in which I knew I had connected a young person with a service that was immediately going to help him or her. Because I speak Spanish, there were instances in which I knew the young person could not have received any help without translation. Working to stay present with the young person, and listening without giving my own opinions or advice, was challenging. We live in a society that is constantly talking, and to have to sit back and let the young person make decisions for him or herself — even when I thought my own advice would have been a better idea — was challenging and frustrating at times.

How can communities like Pike ensure young adults aren’t feeling disconnected? As cliché as it sounds, it is so important to be engaged in your community. Volunteering in situations where you actually are interacting with people from other backgrounds will help you grow the most. Hearing others’ stories firsthand has allowed me to both learn more about my community and appreciate what I may have previously taken for granted in my own life.

What inspires you to get up each morning and passionately do what you do? It is not often that you are given the opportunity to spend your day listening to the life stories of young people who live in your city. Through my role as an intake counselor at The Door, I heard many stories — some happy, others incredibly devastating — but I always saw resilience. Most of these young people come to The Door for help because they want to improve their lives in one way or another. The positivity that comes from the least expected of young people inspired inspires me to examine my own life more deeply and to truly appreciate the things I previously took for granted.