Serving With City Year: An Impactful Part of my Foundation in Student Affairs

Towards the end of my time in college, my mind was already set about pursuing a student affairs career after graduation. However, I could not be more thankful for those moments, experiences, and people that came into my life at just the right timing, because it all led me to a powerful and life-changing year serving with City Year Miami right before starting my graduate program. As it turns out, I have carried that year of service with me in every opportunity I have been a part of afterwards, especially now as a student affairs professional.

My year as an AmeriCorps Member with City Year has been impactful in many ways, from the gained skills to the lessons learned, but more importantly for the way in which it reaffirmed the high value and regard I have for serving others. It showed me the true success and growth that comes from instilling purpose, pride and service in everything you do, and this is something that has continued to be reflected in my experiences following City Year, especially as something I strive to pass on to the students I work with now.

In addition, my team, fellow corps members, and staff members, were incredibly helpful and supportive in terms of making sure I was ready for my life after City Year, and to this day have served as great sources of encouragement, support, and advice. From resume checks, to workshops, and even serving as references throughout job searches, I am thankful for my City Year family for their help and support as I have continued my professional growth.

However, some of the biggest highlights from my time with City Year Miami were the students we got to serve. As Corps Members, we were able to help and mentor students who in many ways were going through the same challenges I went through when I was in their shoes (in fact, I ended up being placed to serve in the high school that I graduated from). Many challenges came, especially with tackling those issues of attendance, behavior, and course performance.

Our team remained dedicated to address these issues and get closer to bridging that gap, through genuine relationships that we built with the students we worked with. It challenged us to be consistent, creative, and resilient, not only when assisting our students, but also when planning projects and events to foster the right environment for them to succeed.

In my time in student affairs, much of my work has led me to rely on the lessons learned during City Year, from the consistency and purpose needed when advising and developing relationships with students, to the purpose-driven mentality to plan and facilitate programs, all in efforts to help students harness their potential to make a difference. Above all, something very special has become engraved as part of my values system, not just professionally, but personally: “Ubuntu: I am a person through other people. My humanity is tied to yours.”

This organization and the students I served have empowered me time and time again to #makebetterhappen in student affairs and elsewhere. Almost four years later, I now hope to see my “starfish” graduate from high school and continue pursuing their dreams, but I hope they also know that they have made an impact in my life as well. 

I am thankful for the opportunity to share this with you, and I can be reached at [email protected] if I can be of any more help. Serving with City Year is an experience that I recommend without hesitation, because no matter where your path takes you, you will always wear the red jacket.

About the author:
Luis is a Leadership Coach at the Leadership and Service Center at the University of South Carolina, where he currently coordinates several community service initiatives and helps provide leadership development for students. He uses his experiences in higher education and the nonprofit sector to empower USC students to serve their community by creating and maintaining relationships with agencies in the Columbia area. In addition, he helps manage the department’s social media platforms and is involved in the Men of Color Initiative with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.