City Year Interview: How helping D.C. students stay in school inspired Ana Medina’s future too
By hola | Published | No Comments
City Year is a national organization that recruits young people to spend a 11 months of service working at high schools around the country where students need help overcoming serious obstacles to completing their education. We talked to Ana Medina, a 23-year-old Venezuela native raised in Florida, who just completed her City Year at Cesar Chavez Public Charter Middle School in Northeast Washington.
“I have always been passionate about dedicating my life to serving others and City Year has only bolstered that interest.”
How did you find out about City Year?
I heard about it at my university, but during my senior year at the University of Florida, I learned more about City Year through a friend who was a corps member in New York City at the time. As his year progressed, I heard more about his experience. And after researching the organization, I became passionate about its mission and empowered about the role I knew I could play in enriching and enhancing educational opportunities for students in underrepresented communities.
What was the process of applying and landing a City Year position?
Before applying to City Year, I reached out to friends who were serving as corps members at the time. I spoke to them about their experiences and asked questions. After completing my research, I applied through the City Year website. I responded to the essay-style questions and applied to serve in Washington, D.C. Within a month after the deadline, I was contacted by a City Year representative, completed a phone interview, and was offered a position with DC’s 2014-15 corps!
What has your experience at Cesar Chavez Charter School been like? What have you learned?
My experience at Cesar Chavez Charter School has been fantastic! I have worked in a team of nine AmeriCorps members with various resources and ideas. I have learned to work effectively in such a diverse team and to cooperate in achieving common goals. I have also formed lasting relationships with my students, and have become more aware about the difficulties students in underrepresented communities encounter in the completion of their education.
Could you tell us about one experience during your City Year that really moved or influenced you and will have a lasting impact in your life ahead?
One experience during my City Year that has left a lasting impact in my life has been working with an English-Language Learner student from El Salvador. I dedicated many hours to helping him not only improve his English skills, but also build the confidence to embrace the duality of his identity as a Salvadorian-American that will help him succeed in his academic and personal future.
Since your first year at City Year is wrapping up, what’s next for you? What career are you planning to pursue? How has your City Year experience prepared you for the professional world?
As my first City Year comes to an end, I am looking forward to continuing to work in the public service field. I have always been passionate about dedicating my life to serving others and City Year has only bolstered that interest. My experience with City Year has been beneficial in allowing me to grow through organizational leadership positions and has kindled a sense of perseverance in the face of difficulty for my professional future in the public service field.
City year is now accepting applications. For more information, visit https://www.cityyear.org/
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