Lyrik and Robert, two 11th grade students at Northeast High School, exemplify the transformative power of 3DE by Junior Achievement. Over the past three years, they’ve experienced a profound shift in not only their approach to education but also how they see their futures.
Lyrik’s path through 3DE has been one of discovery. “Before I started 3DE, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she admits. Initially, Lyrik wasn’t enthusiastic about 3DE at the start of her ninth-grade year, but over time, she realized how much it could impact her life. Now a 3DE student ambassador, Lyrik credits it with giving her the guidance and tools she needed to dream big and plan for her future. “It gave me options on how to start my own business and what I want to do after college,” she explains. “3DE has given me more of a reason to come to school.”
Lyrik, 11th Grade, and Rheanna Egli, Vice Principal, Northeast HSLyrik and Maar’Quez, 11th Grade
Lyrik also feels that 3DE has brought a sense of pride to the students at Northeast. “The area that we’re in is already overlooked, but having 3DE at our school has helped us develop, helped a lot of us get jobs, and get recognized by colleges,” she says. “Knowing that there are people on the outside looking at us, coming into the school and seeing what we’re doing, it makes a difference in our lives.”
Lyrik’s clarity in her goals also led to personal growth. The experiences she’s had through 3DE have helped her build communication and collaboration skills—skills she has already applied in her part-time job. “Before I started 3DE, my attitude was really bad. I used to get mad at everything,” she reflects. “But 3DE helped me develop my collaboration skills. So, when I did go out and get a job, it was easier for me to collaborate with my teammates. I was even able to secure the job of manager.”
Lyrik dreams of becoming a travel nurse while also pursuing cosmetology as a side business—goals she attributes to the entrepreneurial skills she’s gained through 3DE. “3DE prepares us for life outside of high school because it takes us out of the school and shows us what life will be like,” she says, confident about her future beyond the classroom.
Robert’s story, like Lyrik’s, is one of transformation. Before 3DE, he admits that he didn’t take school seriously and struggled with behavior and grades. But through the support of his 3DE school director, school administrators, and business coaches, Robert began to see his potential. “3DE opened my mind and showed me that people really do care about me and my future,” he says. Today, Robert has excelled in his studies—earning straight A’s and becoming one of the top students in his class and a proud repeat 3DE case challenge finalist.
Robert, 11th Grade, with Dr. Stephani Reynolds and Rheanna Egli
A pivotal moment in Robert’s journey was the Mark One Electric case challenge, where he not only saw representation in leadership but also gained access to resources that directly benefited his family. “They gave us a hotline to get free smoke detectors,” Robert shares, explaining how he immediately took advantage of the offer. This practical impact left a lasting impression on him and underscored the real-world value of 3DE.
What drives Robert is his desire to be a role model for his family. As an aspiring first-generation college student, the weight of that responsibility is something he takes seriously. “My mom didn’t finish high school… so knowing that I’m about to complete high school and want to go to college, she’s very happy about that,” he shares with pride. Before his dad passed away from cancer, he told Robert that he would now be the man of the house, a role Robert embraces fully. “I’m going to be a role model for those after me and those before me,” he says. Thanks to the skills and confidence he’s developed in 3DE, he has no fears about taking on that responsibility.
Robert credits 3DE for helping him build essential life skills like cultural agility, adaptability, and teamwork—skills he once struggled with due to his autism diagnosis but now excels at. He acknowledges that working with his classmates has taught him the importance of collaboration and understanding diverse perspectives.
While Robert is still exploring his career options, he’s confident that 3DE has given him the tools to succeed. From making connections with successful business professionals from Deloitte and KPMG to gaining a deeper sense of purpose, Robert is ready to help others, just as people have helped him. “I want to show other people that even though I came from not a great background, I can still be the greatest,” he says, committed to paving the way for others.
For Rheanna Egli, Vice Principal, and Dr. Stephani Reynolds, School Director of 3DE at Northeast High School, watching students like Lyrik, Robert, and so many others evolve has been incredibly rewarding. Egli recalls how Lyrik initially struggled with the model but now leads by example. “3DE has presented her with outside opportunities and helped her realize that there’s more than just these walls, more than just her neighborhood. There’s a whole world out there,” she says. Dr. Reynolds echoes these sentiments, describing the transformation in students as “night and day.” She says, “It amazes me how much these students grow and mature. What they’ve been able to experience through 3DE is something most kids don’t get to experience. I am so proud of them.”
Egli reflects on the unique challenges her students face, noting how their district is often viewed as disadvantaged. Thanks to 3DE, those perspectives are changing. Once people from the community come in, they realize that a zip code does not diminish the talent and potential of the students here. “A lot of times, businesses are so removed from the realities of the kids in their own city. They just see the negative things that are shown on the news… so having businesses be able to come in and see that we have great kids here who are going to do great things is powerful.”
The impact that the 3DE model is making on Northeast High School and its students is clear. Egli and Dr. Reynolds are filled with emotion and pride thinking about the future for their inaugural cohort of 3DE students. Lyrik and Robert, like many of their peers, will step into the workforce or onto post-secondary campuses with confidence, equipped with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to make a lasting impact in their communities and thrive as adults.
To learn more about how you can get involved with 3DE, visit jagkc.org/3de.
Story of Impact: Lyrik and Robert’s Journey Through 3DE
Lyrik and Robert, two 11th grade students at Northeast High School, exemplify the transformative power of 3DE by Junior Achievement. Over the past three years, they’ve experienced a profound shift in not only their approach to education but also how they see their futures.
Lyrik’s path through 3DE has been one of discovery. “Before I started 3DE, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she admits. Initially, Lyrik wasn’t enthusiastic about 3DE at the start of her ninth-grade year, but over time, she realized how much it could impact her life. Now a 3DE student ambassador, Lyrik credits it with giving her the guidance and tools she needed to dream big and plan for her future. “It gave me options on how to start my own business and what I want to do after college,” she explains. “3DE has given me more of a reason to come to school.”
Lyrik also feels that 3DE has brought a sense of pride to the students at Northeast. “The area that we’re in is already overlooked, but having 3DE at our school has helped us develop, helped a lot of us get jobs, and get recognized by colleges,” she says. “Knowing that there are people on the outside looking at us, coming into the school and seeing what we’re doing, it makes a difference in our lives.”
Lyrik’s clarity in her goals also led to personal growth. The experiences she’s had through 3DE have helped her build communication and collaboration skills—skills she has already applied in her part-time job. “Before I started 3DE, my attitude was really bad. I used to get mad at everything,” she reflects. “But 3DE helped me develop my collaboration skills. So, when I did go out and get a job, it was easier for me to collaborate with my teammates. I was even able to secure the job of manager.”
Lyrik dreams of becoming a travel nurse while also pursuing cosmetology as a side business—goals she attributes to the entrepreneurial skills she’s gained through 3DE. “3DE prepares us for life outside of high school because it takes us out of the school and shows us what life will be like,” she says, confident about her future beyond the classroom.
Robert’s story, like Lyrik’s, is one of transformation. Before 3DE, he admits that he didn’t take school seriously and struggled with behavior and grades. But through the support of his 3DE school director, school administrators, and business coaches, Robert began to see his potential. “3DE opened my mind and showed me that people really do care about me and my future,” he says. Today, Robert has excelled in his studies—earning straight A’s and becoming one of the top students in his class and a proud repeat 3DE case challenge finalist.
and Rheanna Egli
A pivotal moment in Robert’s journey was the Mark One Electric case challenge, where he not only saw representation in leadership but also gained access to resources that directly benefited his family. “They gave us a hotline to get free smoke detectors,” Robert shares, explaining how he immediately took advantage of the offer. This practical impact left a lasting impression on him and underscored the real-world value of 3DE.
What drives Robert is his desire to be a role model for his family. As an aspiring first-generation college student, the weight of that responsibility is something he takes seriously. “My mom didn’t finish high school… so knowing that I’m about to complete high school and want to go to college, she’s very happy about that,” he shares with pride. Before his dad passed away from cancer, he told Robert that he would now be the man of the house, a role Robert embraces fully. “I’m going to be a role model for those after me and those before me,” he says. Thanks to the skills and confidence he’s developed in 3DE, he has no fears about taking on that responsibility.
Robert credits 3DE for helping him build essential life skills like cultural agility, adaptability, and teamwork—skills he once struggled with due to his autism diagnosis but now excels at. He acknowledges that working with his classmates has taught him the importance of collaboration and understanding diverse perspectives.
While Robert is still exploring his career options, he’s confident that 3DE has given him the tools to succeed. From making connections with successful business professionals from Deloitte and KPMG to gaining a deeper sense of purpose, Robert is ready to help others, just as people have helped him. “I want to show other people that even though I came from not a great background, I can still be the greatest,” he says, committed to paving the way for others.
For Rheanna Egli, Vice Principal, and Dr. Stephani Reynolds, School Director of 3DE at Northeast High School, watching students like Lyrik, Robert, and so many others evolve has been incredibly rewarding. Egli recalls how Lyrik initially struggled with the model but now leads by example. “3DE has presented her with outside opportunities and helped her realize that there’s more than just these walls, more than just her neighborhood. There’s a whole world out there,” she says. Dr. Reynolds echoes these sentiments, describing the transformation in students as “night and day.” She says, “It amazes me how much these students grow and mature. What they’ve been able to experience through 3DE is something most kids don’t get to experience. I am so proud of them.”
Egli reflects on the unique challenges her students face, noting how their district is often viewed as disadvantaged. Thanks to 3DE, those perspectives are changing. Once people from the community come in, they realize that a zip code does not diminish the talent and potential of the students here. “A lot of times, businesses are so removed from the realities of the kids in their own city. They just see the negative things that are shown on the news… so having businesses be able to come in and see that we have great kids here who are going to do great things is powerful.”
The impact that the 3DE model is making on Northeast High School and its students is clear. Egli and Dr. Reynolds are filled with emotion and pride thinking about the future for their inaugural cohort of 3DE students. Lyrik and Robert, like many of their peers, will step into the workforce or onto post-secondary campuses with confidence, equipped with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to make a lasting impact in their communities and thrive as adults.
To learn more about how you can get involved with 3DE, visit jagkc.org/3de.
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