Jonathan Collins a high school senior at The IDEAL School in Manhattan has a passion for music and played bass guitar in 11th grade as part of the school’s band, Art Beat.
He lives in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, in the neighborhood of Stuyvesant Town. “I like that there are playgrounds and basketball courts, where I would spend time during the summer,” he said.
His dad is primarily Jewish, while his mom’s family is of a mix of cultures including Italian and French. Several of his cousins have Puerto Rican background.
The student said his mom has had the greatest influence on his life. “She helped get me into the IDEAL School, and now I’m heading into the transition program,” he stated.
Collins is currently in the Zenith program at the school, which provides additional support in an inclusive classroom with two co-teachers or a teaching team. He will be in the transitional program later this year.
The transition program, called Next Steps, is a one, two, or three-year post secondary program, which supports each student’s continued progress in social-emotional, adaptive-life, executive functioning, and vocational skills. It also supports students and families in planning for their next steps, changing the focus from educational to adult services.
In his junior year, he gave school tours to those who were interested in attending the school, through Next Steps. “I noticed there was an opportunity available, and Mr. Kemp helped me get it,” he said. He added that it was not easy because they would happen during math class.
While being in the transition program, Collins plans on gaining the necessary skills to become a locksmith at the school. In addition, he would like to improve in math in the program .
Collins stated that when he graduates, he wants his impact to be about getting recognition for his hard work. “I want to focus on promoting the school, and setting an example for ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders,” he continued.
Next for Collins is getting into the transitional program. He already submitted his applications for it, and he has an interview on January 31 with the admissions team.
Some things that make him happy are playing basketball, dancing, and connecting with people in his community, including the elders, who know him well.
