Why I Serve (Again) with Allison Maislin

We sat down to interview Allison Maislin, a returning AmeriCorps member with City Year Greater Boston. After serving a first year at the Parlin School in Everett, Allison returned for a second year as a Team Leader serving at the Missituk School in Medford. Read on to hear more about why Allison chose to serve both a first and second year and what the experience has been like! 

What brought you to City Year?

I first heard of City Year at my college career fair, my senior year of college. Teaching had never really been anything I considered, but after talking to the representative, I went straight home and looked more into the program. Talking to her reminded me of the challenges I had as a student with dyslexia who struggled to get the help and support I needed in a school district that worked directly against me. The thought of being able to help provide that extra support and attention to students who might be falling behind and not understanding the material seemed like such an exciting opportunity. That night, I applied. And two months later, I officially committed to serving a year with City Year Greater Boston.

When did you know you wanted to do a second year?

During my first year of service, I enjoyed working in the classroom with my students and partner teacher so much more than I thought I would. Throughout that experience, I still wasn’t sure if teaching  was what I wanted to do, or if I would want to work with students and teachers in other ways. As I was in the process of figuring out if I wanted to come back for a second year, I got to know one of the Team Leaders last year. Working and talking with them throughout the year was so eye opening because they became a resource for me to go to. Knowing that I had the chance to be that person for future corps members seemed like such a transformative opportunity – putting me in the position to learn from my team the same way they would learn from me. So, I decided to commit to another year of working with students, teachers, and a school team, and making unforgettable connections and memories. 

Being the Team Leader in this specific context gives me space to develop my approach to how I want to lead, as well as challenging my comfortability with being vulnerable and open with my team and those around me when I need extra support or advice.

What are you hoping to get from your second year?

This year I have the amazing chance to help build a new partnership in not only a new school, but a new school district as we add school teams in Medford. With that, I hope to build relationships with a whole new community of students, teachers, admin, and my team. Being the Team Leader in this specific context gives me space to develop my approach to how I want to lead, as well as challenging my comfortability with being vulnerable and open with my team and those around me when I need extra support or advice. My team and I are in such a unique position where we get to plant the seeds of what City Year means in Medford and to the Missituk community, and it’s been an adventure that we’ve all been anxious yet so excited to embark on.    

What do you want to do after City Year?

My experience in classrooms both last year and this year has opened my eyes to the joy I get working with kids. I’m still not sure if teaching is the path for me, but having these chances to work with and get to know so many amazing students has prompted me to want to pursue a career in which I continue to work with kids – whether in an academic context, more of a craft/art way, or with helping support the institutions that are there to help them and their schools.