Follow along as Taiheem, Yasmine, and Denise—three young people eager to face the challenges of moving forward in the workforce—travel around the country to talk to software engineers, CEOs, political campaign managers, and more. Throughout their journey, they realize the personal struggles they’ve faced can become a major source for strength as they plot out their next moves in deciding which sort of career path they want to embark on long term. Between their stories and those of the inspiring people they interview, it becomes apparent no hurdle is high enough to stop you from jumping toward your goals. <br> <br />If you’re a parent, teacher, facilitator, or young person looking for educational resources that will help you dive deeper into the topics and themes in this documentary, check out our <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/archive.roadtripnation.com/roadtrip/v2/opp-youth/Roadtrip_Nation_Discussion_Guide_ToBeDetermined.pdf" target="_blank">digital toolkit.</a> 

To Be Determined

INSIGHTS FROM THE SERIES

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You have what it takes.

[MUSIC] As a kid jumping around from shelter to shelter I would go through these bouts of depression. &gt;&gt; Growing up my neighborhood wasn't the safest there's a lot of crime that goes on, there's a lot of drug addicts and a lot of drug dealers. &gt;&gt; I work two full time jobs 80 hours a week, and I don't wanna be stuck in that cycle just so I can help out the rent and pay the bills. &gt;&gt; I don't want to feel like I have to move out of my community, because I can't succeed in my community. &gt;&gt; I'll be going on an RV with two strangers. &gt;&gt; My gosh. &gt;&gt; Cross country. &gt;&gt; On a road trip for three weeks. It's interviewing people who started off with similar backgrounds like myself. &gt;&gt; Wow. &gt;&gt; And they're going to show us what they did to actually pull them through. [SOUND] That was. [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; I get a chance to ask some difficult questions, some things that I may be struggling with. &gt;&gt; To actually see somebody that came from a situation similar to myself instead of going to drugs instead of turning to other things. He used that energy and put it towards something else. &gt;&gt; Being a Latina in the finance industry, it's kind of like if she can do it, then I can do it. &gt;&gt; A lot of places I worked in IT, I'm usually the only person of color. To see where he's at, man it just feels great. &gt;&gt; If you can't fy, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl. Whatever you do, don't stop. &gt;&gt; He came to us with his planes, with the engines and the wings intact. But every plane needs a runway to take off, all we do is provide opportunity, you do the changing. &gt;&gt; Sometimes that's all you need, it's just to have it someone to invest in you, and say hey, I see something different in you. &gt;&gt; I was the one of those opportunity youth pages and needed the opportunity. I just needed a chance to change my projected outcome. &gt;&gt; Some of these interviews like echo in my mind before I go to sleep. &gt;&gt; Part of our responsibility is to help the employers understand that our communities are filled with untapped potential. &gt;&gt; You are representative of the communities you came from. And now through your example people that have grown up in the same community see that they have options. &gt;&gt; The trip isn't even over and I already have a different outlook on life and ways I wanna approach different situations. &gt;&gt; I can't wait to see what all the other interviews will be like. &gt;&gt; Y'all were not lying about it's gonna be a change from the city life. &gt;&gt; I want to come home with as much information as I can. &gt;&gt; I wanna see where else this road leads me. How else can I transform? [MUSIC] 

Three young people discover where you come from doesn’t determine where you end up.

To Be Determined Trailer

Meet Taiheem, Yasmine, and Denise and see the beginning of their journey to interview people who’ve turned their struggles into strengths.

Episode 1: Taking Off 

Taiheem discusses finding his place in tech with an Amazon solutions architect, and the team meets with a political campaign manager.

Episode 2: Trailblazing

Denise discusses a career in finance with a fellow Year Up alum now working at JP Morgan Chase, and the team visits an IT training company.

Episode 3: Yesterday is Not Tomorrow

Yasmine returns to Phalanx Family Services, an organization that helped her get on her feet, and the team finishes their journey.

Episode 4: Lessons Learned

Meet Taiheem, Yasmine, and Denise. From growing up amid gangs and violence, to having to support their families from an early age, they’ve each faced hardships and burdens that could have thwarted them from pursuing their dreams. It wasn’t easy to get on a path to opportunity, but they each found avenues to develop their skills, from taking IT courses, to interning at powerful corporate firms. Now they’re ready to empower themselves to go even further, but they need advice from others who’ve been in their shoes. Follow them on a journey across the country with Roadtrip Nation as they interview successful individuals who also came from disadvantaged backgrounds, and are using the difficulty of their pasts to fuel their future. Watch the journey unfold below, then stay tuned to watch the series when it premieres next year.

Opp Youth Roadtrip

STOPS & INTERVIEWS

STOPS & INTERVIEWS

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