Having a bad day? Feeling like you just can’t hit your goals? Like you ran out of luck and you’re out of steam?
Meet Kayla Peña, Liberal Arts A.A., class of 2020. That’s right, from the unluckiest class of college students to ever (not) toss their caps in the air. With their courses hastily moved online, muted months after the world shut down, June 2020’s “COVID graduates” donned their caps and gowns and marched across their laptop screens.
“Most of the semester was taken away from us, and the events… But look, what we learned was how to transcend,” she said. That’s pure Kayla.
“Kayla was incredibly active and engaged at Guttman, especially within the Women of GRIT program. Talented, kind and tenacious, she always demonstrated strong leadership and a deep commitment to her academics. She was always willing to help, frequently volunteering to support events. A proud “Guttman Grizzly,” with her bright smile and welcoming spirit, made her a joy to be around,” remembered Victoria Romero, director of Advising & Transfer Support and co-advisor to the Women of GRIT student organization.
From the moment Kayla began Guttman’s Summer Bridge in 2018, she began looking for ways to get connected with the College’s clubs and services, finding mentors and peer support through Women of GRIT and the Office of AccessABILITY. She joined the Royal Grizzlies Dance Team and earned her way into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, receiving an NYC Council Merit Scholarship and a Guttman Presidential Academic Excellence Award.
“I’m not afraid of hard work,” she explained. “From elementary through high school, my parents worked hard to put me on a better path, and they taught me the discipline of working hard, persevering and staying focused. They gave me and my brother so many opportunities, signing us up for programs after school and on weekends.” Kayla, the oldest, is proud of her brother, now a student at NYU’s Stern School of Business.
“My mom put me in test prep classes at Columbia University,” she recounted. “It was a rewarding experience that positively impacted my educational journey, solidifying my writing skills, and opened me to many experiences.” Kayla acknowledges that her parents are amazing role models for their resourcefulness and drive. “But my mom says that they won the parenting lottery with us!”
Like Kayla, both her mom and dad received a public school education. They met as students at CUNY’s City College of New York, so it was natural for Kayla to enroll at CCNY after she graduated from Guttman, establishing a family legacy as the second generation in her family to get a college degree from the school. “I am proud of that accomplishment,” she said. And yes, because of the pandemic, she completed most of her B.A. in Psychology online, finishing summa cum laude in 2022. “I remember The Colin Powell School’s Dean Andrew Rich, saying, ‘These graduates are ready for anything,’ and I know that’s true!” she laughed.
Today, in 2025, Kayla is putting all of her knowledge and skills to work in her second year as a case manager with the NYC Human Resources Administration. The 25-year-old points to the many networking experiences she’s sought and the relationships she’s built along the way as directly related to her employment — a tip she regularly passes along to her clients. While she studied at Guttman, Kayla always signed up to attend city, state and national career and women’s leadership conferences. And now that she’s an alumna of City College, she often attends the cultural and educational events they offer. “I’m now on their campus for activities much more than I ever was as a student!” she mused.
“I don’t think people [who went to college during the pandemic] realize that once you graduate, you can always take advantage of your college’s career services and attend their events,” she said. “I went to the alumni office for help with my job search and upgrading my resume and LinkedIn,” Kayla noted. “Put yourself in their circles.”
Key to Kayla’s forward-looking nature is also “looking back.” She regularly touches base with favorite professors and people she met through jobs she had through the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). “Just send them an email every once in a while. Let them know what you’re up to, thank them for the experience you had with them and always keep them in your professional network,” she advised.
Staying connected with peers is also important to Kayla. For example, back in high school, Kayla, who had never run before, signed up with the New York Runners Run for the Future to be eligible for a scholarship. She trained with a group of other girls in Central Park and eventually ran a 5K. Today, seven years later, she is still active with alumnae from that group and, when she can, gets together with them for the annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day. She also keeps up a daily fitness habit with 30 minutes on her walking pad when she gets home from work. “When you’re taking care of people, you’ve got to take care of yourself!” she asserted.
Guttman is glad to claim Kayla Peña as an outstanding alum of the college. In the words of Crystal Vazquez, director of AccessABILITY Services, “Kayla, like many of our students, is the epitome of student success. She is strong-willed and always eager to learn, solidifying positive relationships and connections. But most importantly, she tackled issues and challenges with a positive, can-do attitude. Because of this, she has no doubts that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to. An attitude like that can change the world!”
