Hey Treasure Seekers,
As I write this, I am eighteen years old and I am a Creative Content & Social Media Intern intern at Yadestiny Treasure Chest (YTC). Before July, I had no familiarity with what YTC, what it did, and what it meant to someone like me. The only familiarity I had was an application I submitted in my junior year to the YTC Treasure Chest Youth Pitch Contest in Partnership with Shopify New York. YTC was hosting it for the first time that year, young entrepreneurs could pitch their business ideas to an audience filled with creatives and representatives from Shopify. Amazing right? Downside, my idea wasn’t quite done. The big idea: a teenaged published author who would be a spokesperson for the youth. Going to schools, creating partnerships, and I’d be a passionate writer motivating others to achieve their goals. Because if I could do it, why can’t you?
I wasn’t let down by not being a part of the Youth Pitch Contest because like the saying goes, “rejection is just redirection.” And I was being directed to the path meant for me, and I did go on to publish that book I had glorified in present tense a year ago to YTC when it was still in my google drive. As I wrapped up the nitty gritty of what a book contract entailed, including proofreading to countless late nights editing and submitting assignments for class. I had landed myself into an internship for JPMorgan Chase as well. Fast forward to the end of senior year, and I was standing in front of a crowd with at least a thousand people sitting. Literally. (Well a good half being my fellow graduates as the 2025 Salutatorian and the rest being encouraging family members and friends who came to support their graduating teen. It was a heartfelt moment and a memory I had begun envisioning as to what it would be like since freshman year of high school.
Although, once the graduation ceremony was finished, it felt like so were my accomplishments. It wasn’t until the summer had neared, did I realize I was trapping myself with that thought. That I should’ve been thinking about, “What’s next?” This question may seem like an endless spiral, it helped me start being conscious as to what I wanted to spend my time on. Though I was still stuck on the answer. I had just wrapped up an episode on the “Raq and Ashley Podcast,” which was in the works for a few months before my book Greenville was set to go out in May. When I received this comment:
There it was, the spark that I didn’t know would ablaze a path for me. The first of many moments I shared with Karyne and YTC began on July 12th. Which so happened to be my eighteen birthday as well. I had a table set up in the Brooklyn Navy Yard for Hip Hop closet’s annual Block Party event, and it was my first real-world experience as an author and artist. When it came to pitching my book on the spot, interacting with potential readers and providing live art to interested customers, I was finally getting started. Since that day, I have been a mentee for an organization called Yadestiny Treasure Chest which is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth ages 25 and under. By combining free clothing assistance with creative education and mentorship in sustainable fashion, media, and entrepreneurship to help young people, YTC strives to build confidence and sustainable futures.
I have yet to encounter a moment where I didn’t feel supported by those around me or uninspired. With opportunities such as the most recent being the Wallabout Wonderland Holiday Market at Brooklyn Navy Yard where over 150 vendors came together to display their businesses and be a part of an uplifting community tailored to the public. The Founder and Executive Director, Karyne Tinord, recognized my ability for quick thinking on the spot, creativity, and an eye for a dynamic vision, and without missing a beat she brought me on to the team. These days I help with the social media pages of YTC and make sure more people hear about the wonderful initiatives the organization does so people who are unaware (just like I was) could find a road to learning and growth. I wouldn’t trade the experience, memories and knowledge I have been taught from YTC for anything. What are you waiting for?
Till next time.
Yours truly,
Jayla Hall Cabrera
