Walking around a high school in a uniform signified by red outerwear (jacket, winter jacket, vest, or pullover) makes you stand out. Last year, before people knew my name, they called me “City Year”. I was branded, and with knowledge or awareness of City Year came assumptions that I was there to help, I was always available, and that I knew everything. I was also more than myself, part of a team of red jackets strategically placed throughout the school.

City Year Head Shot

When I first started, I got the sense that without my red gear, I would have been completely out of place. My name was on a name-tag, or conveniently embroidered on my jackets but “go to City Year” was said far more frequently than any of my or my teammates names. We were not yet individuals; we had no unique identity or skills. As we started to take on projects and got placed with specific classes, we began developing our identities as artist, dancer, math whiz, overachiever, bookworm, problem solver, creative genius, or musician and found our niche.

Now at WCCCD, as the Community Engagement Fellow through Challenge Detroit, I’m still figuring out who I am here. What exactly does it mean to be a fellow? How will I be engaging with the community? How can I bring my Challenge Detroit experience into every day work? How do I let people know why I’m here and what I hope to accomplish?

My office is a small part of the district support center for the college. Beyond other departments here, there are 5 college campuses, each with their own leadership and specializations. I have no idea where I fit in, or who I’ll get to interact with over the course of the year. One thing I know we all have in common is a passion for education and a commitment to make access more widespread throughout Detroit.

Here are a few tips, things I’ve done the past few weeks, that might help others settle into new positions or companies:

  • Check in frequently with supervisors about performance (At the moment, I do this every day just to make sure I’m meeting standards and to get a firm idea of expectations so I can become more independent over time)
  • Ask for more work or guidance if you find yourself with little to do
  • Research your company and talk about what you find interesting and what you want to learn more about
  • Develop relationships with your colleagues
  • Add something familiar to your week (For me this is reading to a student every Thursday at a local school)

What are some strategies you’ve used to transition into new jobs? Comment below!