Deja Frederick
Policy & Government Relations Intern
Jumpstart Alumna 2018-2019
Tell us a little about your current position and anything exciting you are working on.
Deja: I am a Policy Intern under the Policy and Government Relations department with Jumpstart. Right now, I do a lot of research based on different policies going on for early childhood education around the country. We are also working on focus groups to get input from current members and alumni regarding what they like about the program and what they would like to see more of, in terms of policy for early childhood education.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. What brought you to Jumpstart?
Deja: I’m a graduate student at Pepperdine University. I went to graduate school because I wanted to be able to work in education after graduating with an economics degree in education. Looking through programs at Pepperdine, I found Jumpstart and know it’s highly regarded at the university, so I really wanted to join. Jumpstart really helps because I want to go into education policy, and having direct experience with children on the ground is going to help me speak from a personal perspective instead of just what I’ve read.
What are some of the things you do to take care of yourself and your mental health?
Deja: Right now, since it’s Christmas time, I watch a lot of the Hallmark channel. I also take my dog to the dog park quite a bit to get outside. I try to talk to friends and family as much as possible. It’s important to take breaks.
Is there any advice you would like to pass on to Corps Members?
I think Jumpstart helps you get a look into the life of an early childhood educator and learn more about the experience for young children. I would say, be open to hearing what the kids share with you, whether it’s personal or based on school, because you learn a lot about them and what is going on in their lives.
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