I got the City Year position; What I did and Why I applied
What Happened — and Why I’m Excited
As of Thursday, December 4, 2025, I accepted an offer from City Year Chicago to serve as a Student Success Coach for the 2026–2027 school year. This feels like a relief valve after months of uncertainty — especially nearing the end of my senior year at Columbia College Chicago.
Although this role isn’t directly tied to my advertising major, it offers growth: professionally, personally, and as a human being getting ready to step outside the classroom. With this chapter ahead, I wanted to share how I got here — and why I’m grateful for it.
What Is City Year?
City Year is a national AmeriCorps–powered service organization that partners with public schools across the U.S. to support students, classrooms, and communities. As a Student Success Coach, you work in teams to help students build academic skills, interpersonal confidence, and a sense of belonging inside often under-resourced schools.
Members receive structured training, mentorship, and ongoing support — and you join a legacy of more than 40,000 alumni working across nonprofits, business, education, and community leadership.
For me, City Year represents a chance to give back, learn, and grow in a setting that prioritizes people, equity, and real change.
How I Got In — My Application Story
I applied in October, when the 2026–27 cohort opened. The process was simple and fair: basic info, resume, two short-answer prompts — total application time: about two hours. To answer their questions, I drew on my experiences with TRIO and my NRF challenge — both pivotal moments in my leadership and personal growth.
For my recommendation letter I asked my TRIO advisor, who saw how I navigated challenges and grew as a student leader. After submitting, I got an interview scheduled quickly — a virtual 30-minute conversation. We covered why I applied, what I hoped to learn, and scenario-based questions around conflict, problem-solving, and growth mindset. I spoke honestly about wanting to work with a diverse community to build both interpersonal and cultural fluency — a skill I believe will serve me well beyond City Year.
At the end of the interview I asked if there were any concerns I hadn’t addressed. When the interviewer said no, I left feeling confident. Two weeks later, I saw the email: I’d been accepted.
Why I Applied — Beyond the Offer Letter
Yes — the stipend, benefits, and perks drew me in. City Year AmeriCorps members receive a biweekly living stipend, health coverage, mental-health support, and the opportunity for an education award after service ends.
But it wasn’t just about money. As I am nearing graduation in Advertising Strategy, I realized I want one more year of growth outside a classroom or agency — a year to learn leadership in real time, to work in community, to build resilience. City Year offers training, mentorship, and exposure to school-based systems — areas I’ve never worked in before. Those experiences, I believe, will round out my skill set and shape how I approach brand work later.
City Year’s mission and values align with how I view purpose and impact. I’m motivated by work that centers community, authenticity, and real human connection — not just metrics or designs. Working alongside kids, teachers, and communities to help create inclusive learning environments feels meaningful in a way few jobs do.
What I Hope to Learn & Build During This Year
Here’s what I’m coming into City Year with:
Leadership beyond strategy decks. I want to learn how to lead in chaotic spaces — where systems are imperfect and people’s lives are real.
Cultural & community fluency. Public schools are microcosms of identity, background, and need. Understanding that complexity will help me think more empathetically, whether for people — or for brands.
Communication grounded in clarity and empathy. As a strategist, I’m used to data and insight. As a coach, I want to learn how to communicate hope, trust, and support.
A bridge between my academic background and future purpose. My Advertising major taught me how to research and craft strategy. City Year gives me a space to test strategy in human context.
To My Network — If You’re Considering an Unexpected Pivot
If you’re near graduation, feel uncertain about your next step, or want to pause before diving into corporate or agency life — I’d encourage you to consider something like City Year.
This isn’t a fallback. It’s a reset. It’s growth, service, and real-world learning. It’s about testing yourself outside comfort zones, learning with humility, and building purpose beyond a resume.
City Year isn’t just a “gap year.” It’s an opportunity to build clarity, compassion, and a deeper sense of direction.
What I’ll Learn — and What I’ll Bring Back
At the end of this year, I hope to emerge more grounded, more compassionate, and with a sharper sense of why I do what I do. I expect to build resilience, empathy, and communication — all skills that translate directly into brand strategy and leadership.
When I return to creative work, I want to carry these lessons with me: not just technical skill, but human understanding. I want to build campaigns that respect people’s stories — because I’ll know firsthand what it means to be part of one.
If you’ve also taken a non-linear path, or are weighing the same choice — feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear where you are.
Thanks for reading. I’m excited for this next chapter — and I’m glad to have a space to reflect on it with you here.
— Alexis De Ocampo
