EAST’s goal is to equip students with skills they can use in the classroom and out in the real world, and the Initiative’s alumni demonstrate just how effective those skills are. Searcy High School graduate and EAST alumna Alyssa Winner says that EAST changed the whole direction of her life.

“Before I joined EAST,” she says, “I wanted a job that was not very people friendly. I didn’t want to have to be around people or work with other people. But, since I joined EAST, I have changed my mind about how I want my work life to be. Now, I want to be more in a team-based setting, and be with people and helping people.”

Alyssa is a freshman at Harding University and is majoring in nursing and theological studies. She hopes to one day be a pediatric nurse. But her career plans aren’t the only thing that’s been affected by spending six years as an EASTie. Her people skills have skyrocketed, and she says that talking to new people, especially in her college life, is nowhere near as scary as it would have been, had she not joined EAST in the seventh grade.

“I can more easily hold conversations with people, and hold interesting conversations. Not just 'what’s the weather like today,' 'what are you majoring in,' 'where are you from' type of conversations, but interesting conversations that actually mean something,” Alyssa explains. “I’ve got better tools at my disposal for conversations and relationships.”

EAST has given her friendships, connections, and improved her high school experience tremendously. Since she always started her days in the EAST room, whether it was her first period or she was just in there before school, she could start every day with a good mindset and positive attitude. Her facilitator, Kelly Martin, was a huge influence on her, both as a facilitator and as a friend, and according to Alyssa, “is a really big part of who I am today.”

Though she started her EAST journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, she ended up attending four EAST Conferences, completing two projects, mentoring junior high EASTies, and serving as a Student Champion for SHS. Alyssa was invaluable to her EAST program, and is headed into the future armed with the skills, values, work ethic, and relationships that it gave her.

“Stay with EAST. It’s so worth it,” she says. “Wonderful program, wonderful people, and wonderful opportunities.”