Maegan Godoy: Finding Her Voice Through Apprenticeship
In May 2025, ten months into her apprenticeship, Maegan Godoy stood on stage at Friendship Technology Prep as her high school’s Student of the Year–a recognition that, for her, was inseparable from her role as a CareerWise DC youth apprentice. Maegan completed her apprenticeship in Business Operations as a Project Coordinator at New America in July 2026, supporting webinars, in-person convenings, and team events, and is now entering her sophomore year at Hampton University.
From Quiet Observer to Advocate for Change
Maegan describes her first day as “quite shy,” focused mostly on taking in information. What changed wasn’t just comfort with the work, but who she was becoming. “I changed a lot through my dedication to learning, leading, self-advocacy, and a commitment to creating change,” she said. She came in expecting to build professional skills and came out “more focused on true, actionable change” than she ever anticipated.
A High School That Trusted Her With More
Maegan points to her high school, Friendship Tech Prep, as the real difference-maker in her apprenticeship–the school that gave her agency over both her academics and her professional life, accommodating her absences and trusting her, as she put it, “with the integrity to pursue something greater.”
A Job That Fit Who She Already Was
Maegan’s proudest technical skill is logistics management–coordinating webinars, convenings, and team travel, work that pushed her toward project management and is now leading her to pursue her PMI certification. Maegan's proudest technical skill is logistics management—coordinating webinars, convenings, and team travel, work that pushed her toward project management and is now leading her to pursue her PMI certification.
Her apprenticeship also gave her the opportunity to develop another passion: writing. Working first under the supervision of Taylor White, Director of Postsecondary Pathways for Youth & Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), and later Erica Simon, Deputy Director of Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), Maegan contributed to New America's thought leadership on youth apprenticeship.
Through New America's PAYA initiative, Maegan published thought leadership exploring topics ranging from misconceptions about youth apprenticeship and healthcare workforce shortages to the importance of representation and what makes apprenticeship appealing to Generation Z. Looking back at her earliest work, she's struck by how much her voice and confidence as a writer have grown.
A close mentorship rounded out the experience. Rochelle Miller, Operations Manager on the Education Team, mentored Maegan throughout her apprenticeship, building what she describes as "a close professional relationship.”
Maegan’s journey reflects what CareerWise DC apprenticeships are built to do: give young people the time, mentorship, and hands-on experience to grow not just their skills, but their sense of who they want to become. To learn more about how CityWorks DC helps young people build careers through hands-on learning, visit cityworksdc.org/programs.
