Finding direction without waiting for certainty

When Vokaye Parker joined The City Tutors, she was already building a career in journalism.

She was working at News 12 New Jersey, had hosted a community-focused cable television show, completed the ReelWorks program, and was starting her own production company to create documentaries. Writing, interviewing, and storytelling were already central to her work.

“I’m interested in people,” Parker said. “I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t have something to say that adds to my life.”

Even with that experience, Parker felt unsure about how to move forward. She wanted to know whether she was making the right choices and whether there was a clear way to navigate the next phase of her career.

“I was looking for someone to tell me that all of the decisions I made were correct,” she said.

Through The City Tutors, Parker connected with journalist and writer Sarah Pappalardo. Their conversations became a turning point.

Early on, Parker recognized a pattern in her own decision-making. She spent significant time researching, planning, and weighing options, often delaying action while trying to determine the best possible path. In their sessions, Pappalardo helped her name this pattern and understand how it was slowing her progress.

“I was trying to make the right decisions instead of the best decisions for me,” Parker said.

Pappalardo encouraged Parker to focus on forward movement. She emphasized that progress rarely comes from having complete certainty and that action often creates clarity.

“Sometimes no matter how much you research, it doesn’t ever come out perfectly,” Parker said. “But you have to keep moving forward.”

Beyond perspective, Parker valued the openness and generosity of the mentorship. Pappalardo shared experience freely and stayed engaged beyond scheduled conversations. Their relationship continued over time, giving Parker a place to think through decisions as they arose.

“She gives of her time effortlessly,” Parker said. “She’s helped me set up my LLC and shared so much information. That kind of access is rare.”

Additional mentorship conversations, including sessions with Antonia Mufarech of Bloomberg, helped Parker think more expansively about her career. Those discussions focused on long-term growth and how media careers evolve over decades rather than in linear steps.

“She helped me think about where I want to be ten or twenty years from now,” Parker said.

Parker also participated in City Tutors events, including an in-person networking event at Guttman Community College. There, she met other mentees and learned how differently people approach opportunity. Some focused on staying within their field, while others explored unfamiliar industries to expand their perspective.

Those interactions reinforced a broader understanding of mentorship as a way to gain exposure to ideas, paths, and professional language that are not always visible.

Through these experiences, Parker became more aware of how access and proximity shape careers. People often remain in roles simply because they are familiar, while many viable options remain unseen without guidance.

The City Tutors experience gave Parker momentum. She gained confidence in taking steps forward, even when outcomes were uncertain, and developed a clearer sense of how to navigate choices as they emerged.

By the end of her mentorship journey, Parker was focused on growth and continued movement.

“I found out that what I needed was completely opposite from what I expected,” she said.

What stayed with her was the ability to act without waiting for certainty and the support to keep moving forward.