On the Job: Jazzmin Scott 

2016 Grand Blanc High School graduate Jazzmin Scott is very familiar with TeenQuest and Summer Youth Initiative (SYI). Scott went through both programs and the impact they had on her still resonates today, as does the same kind of work the facilitators did. 

“Going through the program and seeing how much the facilitators cared for the students and how knowledgeable they were,” she said. “They wanted to see us succeed because sometimes living in our community it is hard to see – what does a high school student do?” 

For Scott, her path took her first to Mott Community College, where she graduated in 2018, and then to the University of Michigan-Flint, where she graduated in 2021. From there she worked at several organizations, first as a closing document specialist for a large mortgage firm, then moving into employee relations. After that, she worked at a non-profit and then for the Ford Motor Company, where she was an associate human resources business partner and began to do work that more closely aligned with her goals.  

Scott’s passion for working with the community and helping people reach their potential in their careers was set during that time in TeenQuest. As she was able to work more with people directly, she found and honed that passion. She now works for Flint & Genesee Education and Talent, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group. She had been looking for an opening for some time and was willing to take something to get her foot in the door, but instead found herself exactly where she wanted to be.  

“I went through the TeenQuest and SYI program and I just loved the facilitators and how they immersed themselves into the program,” says Scott. “I just knew I wanted to be a part of that community that was helping students or adults with their career development.” 

Scott is now the Talent and Attractions Manager and works directly with people looking to start their career path, with a focus on helping former TeenQuest and SYI students as part of her responsibilities.  

“I help with the adult programming side. We have a side of the house that helps support the career preparation for high school students, and I help with adult programming,” says Scott. “Once those individuals are out of SYI and can no longer work in the program, I then reach out to them and reconnect by helping them see how they can live, work, and play here in Genesee County through Make Your Move or get them involved in our Flinterns program.” 

Make Your Move is a talent attraction and retention program focused on helping people work and live in Genesee County. Flinterns is a summer program that offers local interns the opportunity to learn about the area while working at a local company.  

How has your experience with SYI and TeenQuest helped with what you do now? 

I am here to develop people, making sure that they feel confident in the roles they’re applying for and that they’re prepared with their resumes, their interview process, and, especially for our college students, making sure we’re taking time to develop them. I do this by lending a listening ear and making sure that we’re helping them with any training or talent development that we can as well.  

What kinds of success stories have you seen? 

One story that touched me was through our Flinterns program. We had a young man come through the program and through talking with him I learned that he didn’t think he’d have an opportunity to work at a very prominent non-profit because most people would have given up on him or not even given him a chance. Still, he said coming through the Flinterns program showed him that he does have the ability to network with those individuals. He feels more comfortable approaching people who may not look like him. Because of the program, he has that confidence now.  

How does this make you feel knowing you’re a link in helping people become more successful? 

It makes me feel great. Seeing that the work I am doing is impacting lives has been great for me, fueling me and giving me the drive to love the work I do.  

What advice would you give students in TeenQuest and SYI? 

Know what you’re passionate about. Although you may not be able to instantly get into the field that you want to, every job has prepared me to get into my passion of helping people day to do. It’s not a race, so take your time. Make sure that passion is fueling your end goal.