City Year alumni take many different paths after their corps year. No matter what path our alumni take, the skills and experiences that they have as a City Year corps member prepare them for any career they wish to pursue.
To learn more about what City Year alumni are up to now, check out these alumni profiles:
Shajena Erazo '10, City Year Washington, D.C.
Teach For America, D.C. Public Schools - Ballou Senior High School
Q: What role did City Year play in your career choice and progression?
A: I didn’t go into City Year knowing that I wanted to be a teacher, but I came out convinced. I was exposed to some of the most beautiful children and had the wonderful opportunity to mentor them. I was also exposed to elements that make our education system broken such as systemic disparity, violence, and our foster care system.
Q: What skills or lessons did you take away from your City Year experience?
A: Through my City Year experience, I learned that everyone has something to contribute. I was 21 at the time, but some of the most valuable lessons I learned were from my 18-year-old teammate. As a team, we shared 10 of the most difficult months of our lives together -10 months I will be forever grateful for. I am forever linked to them -they will be at my wedding!
Marcus McKoy '10 & '11, City Year Los Angeles
Teach For America, Orangeburg, S.C.
Q: How did City Year impact your decision to apply to become a Teach For America corps member?
A: The two years I spent working with students in the classroom in City Year ignited a passion for youth work and gave me the skills to embark on a lifetime career in education. Education is a social justice issue and I have a role to play in addressing it.
Q: How did your City Year experience prepare you for the classroom?
A: City Year enabled me to motivate my students and maximize their potential as learners. I have the ability to make my classes more engaging and more impactful. If the students are not finding the class interesting on a particular day, I can always make a game or competition to spice things up.
Bianca Lynch '03, City Year Washington, D.C.
Special Education Teacher
Q: What role did City Year play in your career choice and progression?
A: Before my City Year, I thought I was going to be an attorney. City Year was the deciding factor that led me to what I do now. Working with the middle schoolers in DC, it became more and more apparent what I wanted to do. I saw students who obviously had more going on than a disinterest in learning. I saw teachers working with kids the way I wanted to work with kids. I saw an opportunity to do more.
Q: Do you stay involved with City Year today?
A: My service with City Year continues through leadership of the City Year Alumni Association where I serve as co-chair for the National Alumni Advisory Board. Everything that City Year offered me when I was a corps member I can still get as an alumni, just in a different way.
Gabby Fish ’11 & ’12, City Year Washington, DC
Teach For America, D.C. Public Schools
Q: Why did you decide to join City Year?
A: I had an alternative spring break experience during college where I traveled to South Dakota and mentored middle school students on a Native American Reservation – on the reservation I had an overwhelming realization of poverty in our country as I saw how it affected the youth there. After I graduated, I worked for a non-profit called Bread and Water for Africa. While working for them I discovered City Year and fell in love with City Year’s mission. It was a perfect fit because I really wanted to work with youth directly and have a real impact.
Q: What are your long-term plans post City Year and TFA?
A: Eventually I want to get involved in education reform within the DC public school district, specifically focusing on creating sustainable turnaround models. I have learned so much about how to successfully restructure and turn around a school over the past two years at Stanton, and after four years I will have a wealth of knowledge to share with other struggling schools.
Q: What advice do you have for someone who is considering applying to City Year?
A: If you’re interested in applying to City Year, come into the experience with an open mind, ready and willing to “moccasin” other people’s experiences. Constantly empathize with those around you – both your students and your teammates. You have to have an open mind with this job to have an effective team and successful corps year. I also recommend visiting schools and sites – you will have a much greater understanding of what City Year is if you do so.