Members of the John Jay Community Share Their Hopes and Aspirations for 2021

The start of a new year offers an opportunity to take stock in one’s life and forge a new path personally, professionally, nationally, and globally. There’s no denying that the current events our country has faced have been unsettling, but as a community focused on justice and service, it’s critical that we remain hopeful for a brighter future. In the spirit of uplifting our community and encouraging positive actions and goals, we asked members of the John Jay community: What are your hopes and aspirations for 2021?

Victoria Bond
Lecturer, English Department

My hope for 2021 is that the scourge of Covid-19 ends and that in communities both large and small we all survey with our hearts the damage we can repair through work and service. I hope that racism finally becomes a less persuasive worldview. I hope that polarized group-think, misinformation, and disinformation goes on a death spiral. I hope that I can better navigate how to teach my son as his parent and love my son as his teacher. I hope that we spend less time staring at screens and more time staring at the sky and trees and what’s happening or not happening in a lump of soil.

Alumnus Francisco Garcia Reyes ’20
Deputy Sheriff and Marine Reservist

My aspirations for 2021 are to continue to serve my community in Orange County, Florida, to the best of my ability and create a positive impact on everyone I meet. I hope to continue to be a bridge between law enforcement and the community. I want to provide great customer service to the citizens of Orange County, while also maintaining transparency. Also, after I finish my field training this year, I plan on pursuing my master’s degree in Public Administration. It’s a challenge I feel completely prepared for thanks to my John Jay education.

Angela M. Crossman, Ph.D.
Associate to the Provost for Faculty
Professor of Psychology

I hope we can proceed from here to reestablish norms of civility, including our customary peaceful transition of power. I hope we can count on dedicated, service-minded, competent individuals loyal to our Constitution to move us forward to better days—those focused on the good over the country over good for themselves. I hope we can see a functional government focused on seeking and ensuring equity and justice for all, not just the few. I hope we can vaccinate enough people by the start of summer to reach herd immunity and allow for a normal rest of the year.

Alumna Bianca Hayles ’20
Paralegal at Appellate Advocates

There are three goals that I want to achieve this year: I want to read at least 15 books from various genres; I want to apply to political or social justice fellowships; and, I want to support young people of color grow professionally through freelance consulting. I want to continue to stay stimulated intellectually, nurture my curiosity, and independently learn new things. And, before I attend law school, I want to harness my passion for political and social justice movements and play an active role in my community in ensuring equity in all its forms. 

Gina Rae Foster, Ph.D.
Director, John Jay Teaching and Learning Center

In 2021, I am lighting sparks of hope that we invest even more fully in transforming higher education into a more communal, more just, and more authentic learning experience for all. In 2021, I am designing opportunities to hope toward holding those I love in person, feeling safe and confident about being unmasked and socially near. In 2021, I am writing further into a time-travel mystery novel as I depend on hope to keep me working on something different than I’ve ever done before. And, in 2021, I am listening to my son’s hopes of where he wants to go and what he wants to do, trusting that at least some of these hopes I will be able to realize.

Alumnus Quardear Harris ’19
AmeriCorps Member at NYC Civic Corps, Volunteer Coordinator at Project Sunshine

My goal for 2021 is to enroll in a graduate program in order to obtain my master’s degree. It’s important to me to advance my education and make myself more marketable and competitive.  

Anika Amdahl ’23 
Major: International Criminal Justice

My goal this year is to educate myself on the issues and adversities the communities around me are raising awareness of. This past year shed light on a lot of prominent issues that I wasn’t previously aware of, and through all the hardships we faced I learned more about the societal issues I wanted to fight against and educate others on. It’s important to me that everyone takes the time to not only raise awareness about issues that affect them directly, but also use their voice to speak up for others as well. Education is always a necessary starting point, and part of my goal this year is to use my voice to speak up for others around me. 

Aneal Mahabir ’21 
Major: Criminal Justice;  Law & Society 

I have many goals and aspirations for this new year. First off, this is an important year for me because I have the opportunity to start my career before I even graduate. I am on track to graduating a whole year early, so I hope to use it to my advantage and finish strong. Another goal of mine is to help out more in my community. I always believed that I could change things in the world and “unify” all things. That is what I intend on doing. The only thing really left to do is to stay focused, and to always stay positive and motivated throughout these unprecedented times.