Janira Camarillo: Finding Her Path through 3DE
When Janira Camarillo, a 3DE alumna from Tampa Bay, thinks back to who she was before 3DE, she remembers a curious eighth grader walking into Hillsborough High School for a tour. Listening as juniors and seniors described school that sounded unlike anything she had experienced before. She noticed "3DE gave just enough information to spark interest, but not every answer," an approach that immediately drew her in.
Once immersed in the 3DE model, Janira experienced a profound shift in her self-confidence. At first, even speaking in front of a small crowd felt intimidating. But through case challenges, group work, and repeated opportunities to share ideas, she became more comfortable being herself in front of others. This newfound confidence spilled over into other areas of her high school life. Janira joined clubs and participated in band, where she helped recruit new students. The more she practiced communicating, the more she began to see herself as someone who could lead.
Discovering her voice
Her confidence was tested and strengthened through regular interactions with business professionals who serve as coaches and judges throughout the four-year experience. She remembers feeling nervous around them at first—"shaking, hesitating, and working hard to communicate clearly." But over time, she became more comfortable as she realized they were there to listen, support, and offer feedback.
Those community members left a lasting impression on Janira, and the feeling was mutual. During her senior year, one business professional even went out of their way to tell her
"I remember you as a freshman – you’ve grown so much."
Turning passion into purpose
Now, just two months after becoming a 3DE graduate, Janira is already helping shape the next generation of students through a summer internship at Junior Achievement Tampa Bay. This fall, she will attend Palm Beach Atlantic University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with the hope of becoming a childhood psychologist.
Her passion for youth advocacy stems from a variety of experiences: mentoring younger students, taking psychology classes, working in a daycare, helping with the mental health club, and being the oldest of five siblings, including an autistic younger brother. For Janira, psychology is a path that brings together her leadership, empathy, and desire to make a difference.
Janira credits 3DE with preparing her for this next chapter. Through high school, she developed critical competencies in communication, collaboration, and industry understanding—skills she believes will serve her in college and as a psychologist. She shared that earning the JA Essential Work Skills Credential helped affirm those skills, as the multi-part assessment asked her to apply those competencies to real-world video scenarios and think through how to navigate complex challenges.
FINDING HER PLACE
When reflecting on the broader impact of 3DE, Janira points first to the community. She says 3DE helps students build important skills, but it also helps them discover who they are, what they can achieve, and where they belong. She shared:
“3DE gave me a lot of strength and a lot of confidence. It gave me value in who I am and who I want to be.”
Looking back, Janira says 3DE did not hand her a perfectly clear path. Rather, it gave her the experience and mindset to know she was capable of finding one. And as she completes her first internship, begins college, and prepares for a future serving young people, she moves forward with the confidence, purpose, and sense of self to thrive in what comes next.