Pros
The core purpose of City Year - working to support students who show signs of dropping out of high school - makes any of the struggles along the way worth it. As a City Year Corps Member, an employee work with students who show poor attendance, behavior issues, and low English and Math scores. The bonds you make with your students are powerful, and the little successes - for example, getting a kid who counts using his fingers to learn how to multiply and divide in his head - make up for the long hours.
Cons
Because the teams at each school are made up of 17-24 year olds, and because the emphasis is on the TEAM, expect to face some maturity and personality challenges. Corps Members who work at the high school level are also faced with a seemingly insurmountable task, as it is near impossible to get students caught up to their grade level over the course of just one year. Finally, the firm belief in giving people the opportunity to "grow" means that sometimes the people who are hired - including Program Managers - are people who may not be suited for the job and, unfortunately, may not be interested in changing.