Short time for big change

ATTENTION: CAUTION: WARNING: RED ALERT: This is an advertising and recruiting strategy targeted to young idealists ages 17-24 who want to give a year of their lives to change the world. My name is Jeff. I’m a 24 year old native of Bethlehem, PA. Growing up, I attended the Bethlehem Area School District for 13 years (including Kindergarten) until I graduated from Freedom High School. At Freedom, I played four years of soccer and also participated in the student government. Other extra-curricular activities include, but are not limited to: dating a teacher’s daughter, skipping classes from time to time, and faking a seizure in Algebra II (though I absolutely DO NOT recommend or endorse this behavior). Six years later, I will have graduated from Penn State University at University Park, PA, moved to Philadelphia, and joined City Year, a non-profit organization funded by AmeriCorps to serve the community.

The reason for my complete high school disclosure only goes to show the diversity you can expect to experience while in City Year. Corps members are graduates of high school, college, and graduate school, idealists with GEDs, single parents, married, and even members from foreign countries. Through the guidance, instruction, and support of City Year staff, we go out into the community and transform lives by positively impacting the people with whom we work.

As a Corps Member, you can expect to serve your school and community as a role model, tutor, mentor, peacekeeper, and leader to young people that need you to be that extra resource they need to succeed. And the best part about it, City Year gets you in, and you create your own experience and job description however you feel most comfortable. What do you get in return? The list goes on: a weekly living stipend, uniforms provided by Timberland, a T-Mobile phone, first aid and CPR certification, character and leadership development, and an academic award issued by AmeriCorps for $4,725 upon completing your full year of service.

Even though I’ve only been working since the start of September, I’ve already witnessed the impact a group of young idealists can make. Collectively, City Year Greater Philadelphia has renovated five recreational centers in Philadelphia, begun recruiting for next year’s corps to be bigger and better than ever, and started the process of changing the lives of 1000s of students within the 25 schools we serve.

During my average day, I pull struggling students out of their classes to teach them the concepts they find difficult to understand in a more effective one-on-one or small group environment. This way my students receive the individual attention they need. I also spend half of my day helping older students with career and college preparations--assisting with applications, essay writing, and financial aid concerns. At the end of the school day, I spend an hour tutoring different students in different subjects, and continue to develop other after school programs. For example, we are organizing a hip hop club, starting an intramural indoor soccer league, and introducing Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). I do all of this at Overbrook High School in West Philly through our corporate sponsorship with Villa, a popular outfitter in Philadelphia, PA.

I will be rather forthcoming with the reality of this job. It is a true challenge and the degree of difficulty will vary from day to day, but the returns make this job worth it. This is one of the best opportunities you can find to improve the ailing educational system in the United States today. One in four high school students drop out before graduation, and they are the ones we will be counting on to propel our country into the 21st century. As an individual you grow and develop characteristics and abilities you never knew you had. In hard times like these, where jobs are few and far between, why not give a year to service? While the job market is weak now, there is always a market for AmeriCorps volunteers. During your service year, you will strengthen your resume and skill set to appeal to future employers, as well as having more experiences from which to draw. Sure, not all of us look great in bright red jackets and Timberland boots. But when you see us you know who we are. We are City Year and we want you to join us and the rest of the country in the national service movement.

Jeff R., 24, corps member, Villa Team at Overbrook High School