Jubei Brown-Weaver’s Apprenticeship Graduation Speech

Good afternoon,

Thank you to everyone who came out today to support my fellow graduates and me. My name is Jubei Brown-Weaver, and I am a Packaged App Developer at Accenture.

When CityWorks DC asked me to write a speech for this graduation ceremony, I was taken aback - not because they asked me, but because it hit me at that moment how far I’ve come. Three years ago, I was a junior in high school with no true sense of what direction I wanted to take after high school. Now, I've completed a life-changing apprenticeship program, am on track to a fulfilling career in cybersecurity, and am giving a speech at my graduation ceremony. It all happened so fast that I didn't realize how much I've grown. I'm excited to reflect with you today.

I learned about the CareerWise DC apprenticeship program through my counselor, Mr. Holm, at McKinley Tech. That random Tuesday sparked the next major chapter in my life. The apprenticeship program was the opportunity of a lifetime: a perfect combination of hands-on learning with a paid opportunity. I applied, and as part of the pre-training, I attended virtual professional development sessions led by On Ramps to Careers learning soft skills. After a summer of preparation, I received a call from Accenture's HR saying that I had been hired! I still remember the excitement and joy I felt when I received the call.

At first, my day-to-day consisted of coding, coding, and more coding using Python. I was troubleshooting and researching Accenture technology while working on my main project. I also dabbled client-facing research analyst work. During the second phase of my apprenticeship, I learned various skills, including JavaScript, HTML, JSON, CSS, and general web development. Beyond technical skills, I developed in public speaking, networking, advocacy, team collaboration, communication, and time management. I realized that I want to pursue cybersecurity and other aspects of technology to build upon my software development skills.

In my third year, I went from working part-time to full-time, which allowed me to explore much more. In the latest phase of my CareerWise DC apprenticeship, I learned more about web development, advancing coding, and more complex tasks. I also handled more client-facing work, data analysis, researching skills, and program skills like Excel. 

My apprenticeship introduced me to my first networking event, my first panel speaking opportunity, and my first business card. I've served on the National Councils, done public speaking at various professional events, and wore suits at work for the first time!

After completing my apprenticeship in June, I’ve already started my next chapter at Accenture -  I was selected to participate in Accenture’s in-house one-year postsecondary technology apprenticeship with 20 other adults across the country that will lead to a full-time position at the end of the program. My goal is to build a strong career in cybersecurity, and I am also interested in exploring real estate and other ventures with the business experience I've gained through Accenture.

If this apprenticeship taught me anything, it's that I am capable of anything I set my mind to. I already knew that, but this apprenticeship is tangible evidence that it is true. I went from a high school junior with no concrete plan for my future to a packaged app developer with a bright career in the technology field.

Apprenticeships are like a cheat code. You get to be in a learning environment tailored to your interests, and on top of that, it is paid. That means that I was able to be a safety net and provide financial support to my family in moments of need, which is an incredible opportunity. I recommend apprenticeships to everyone, no matter your age. It can boost your career and put you ahead of those taking the traditional college route. College and trade school are not the only pathways to success; I've seen that firsthand.

I want to thank CityWorks DC founder Jennie Niles for being the amazing person that you are. Your passion for apprenticeships and building equitable pathways for the youth is truly inspiring. You've done so much for me, directly and indirectly, and I can never thank you enough. I also want to thank the CareerWise and CityWorks DC team, my project team (especially the supervisor and team lead), the Accenture CORE team, and Mr. Holms, who introduced me to this experience. I am also so grateful to my parents and family, who have been cheering me on since I got this apprenticeship, and proud of all I’ve accomplished. I’m also proud of myself for juggling school, the apprenticeship, and my social life, and now graduating today. The sky's the limit, and you are your only limiter. If you want it, it's out there for you to get it. I'm so happy I advocated for myself and now am on a path into a limitless professional world. I am so proud of the graduates here today, and I can't wait to see where our professional journeys take us.

Thank you.