Sean Flynn

When Sean Flynn first stepped through the doors of Olive-Harvey College, it wasn’t to earn a college degree—it was to take high school equivalency classes to prepare for the GED. What he didn’t realize was that, years later, the same campus would become the launching pad for a life of purpose and service.

Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Sean always had a heart for helping others. That calling became clear during his work as a youth mentor. He witnessed firsthand how supporting one student could positively impact an entire family. That understanding—and a passion for people—led Sean back to Olive-Harvey, this time, as a college student with a mission.

“I’m a people person in every sense of the word,” Sean said. “Studying sociology gave me a deeper understanding of how people and systems function. I wanted to use that knowledge to serve.”

As a non-traditional student at Olive-Harvey, Sean thrived. He earned a 4.0 GPA, joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and immersed himself in his classes. A turning point came when he took advantage of City Colleges’ career planning resources to clarify his path and stay on track. For Sean, it was a revelation.

“I’d never heard of public policy before,” he said. “These resources helped me see how I could build on my sociology background to make a bigger impact.”

That led Sean to the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy and then a master’s in public administration. From there, he stepped into government service—first as a fellow with the Chicago Federal Executive Board, then as an aide and later chief of staff for a City of Chicago alderman. He even ran for alderman himself in the community he still calls home. Today, Sean serves as a community relations representative for Pace Suburban Bus, covering the southern region of Cook County.

“Every day is different, and every day I get to help people,” he said. “I know this is what I was born to do.”

Sean credits Olive-Harvey with helping him find his path. From professors who took time to mentor him, to English classes that helped him understand the power of people’s stories, his experience was transformative.

“I didn’t just get an education—I found my purpose,” he said.

To young people trying to figure out their future, Sean offers this advice: “Think about what you love so much you’d do it for free. Then, find a way to get paid for it. Use the career planning resources, and reverse-engineer your dreams. Start with your goal and work backward. That’s how you build a life you love.”

For Sean Flynn, that life started at Olive-Harvey—and continues with every community he serves.