Tonya Sims is the founder of Bee Gracious Etiquette and a career and education columnist for the Harlem Community News. Her goal is to empower children, teens, and adults toward a bright and successful future. With a focus on career readiness, business etiquette, and personal development, Tonya is dedicated to helping people gain confidence in their voice, presence, and professional story.

Her mission: to ensure every teen knows how to represent themselves proudly, clearly, and authentically, starting with their resume.

“I want young people to feel confident telling their own stories. A resume isn’t just a list of jobs — it’s your voice, your experiences, and your future. I’m using my experience to give back to the community that raised me, so every student knows they have something valuable to offer.”

— Tonya Sims, NYC Teen Resume Challenge

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You’ll participate in four live, interactive workshops designed to help you craft a standout resume and tell your story with confidence. You’ll work closely with an award-winning panel of professional resume writers (writers to be determined), who have years of experience coaching students and professionals.

The workshops cover resume basics, formatting, storytelling, and professional design. Attendance is mandatory to stay eligible for the contest; there are no make-up sessions. Workshop dates will be announced and emailed to all registered participants.

This is your chance to learn from top experts, get personalized guidance, and improve your resume step by step.

Beyond the Challenge: Why This Skill Pays Off

Students who complete the coursework for the NYC Teen ResumeChal lenge gain much more than just a document; they gain a permanent, highly marketable professional skill:

• Immediate Income Potential: Learn how to create resumes for others—a skill you can immediately use as a paid side hustle in high school or college. Helping friends, classmates, and community members with their resumes is a real way to earn money and support your goals.
• Academic Strength: The process of articulating skills and experiences on paper drastically improves your English language and technical writing skills, benefiting every paper and application you submit.
• Personal Confidence: Gain incredible confidence in telling your unique story. You will master the skill of identifying, framing, and selling your achievements, which is essential for every job interview and college essay.

The NYC Teen Resume Challenge is a skill-based contest designed for high school students across New York City. No purchase or payment is required to enter or win. Read the Full Official Rules