Why We Coach: The Volunteers Behind One Million Degrees' Success

The partnership between One Million Degrees and City Colleges of Chicago has a history of proven success, helping students through four pillars of wraparound supports: academic, financial, professional, and personal. In part, what makes the model work is the volunteer coaches who commit to Saturday Scholar Development Sessions at City Colleges campuses throughout the school year.

But what motivates a coach to volunteer? Sue, for example, has coached at OMD for the past two and a half years. When she retired four years ago from her teaching position at Northwestern University in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, she finally had time for what she had wanted to do throughout her career: support the students who needed extra help simply adjusting to college life, especially the first-generation college students.

“I always wished I could do more for them, but my competing work demands just didn’t make it possible. So when I retired, I set a goal to finally make the time to do that. OMD turned out to be the perfect opportunity,” she explained.

Francesca, a registered behavior technician who works with children with autism, was introduced to OMD through her husband.

“He knew I would enjoy it and be good at it as I love helping others in any way I can,” Francesca said.

And he was right. Having now volunteered Having now volunteered for four years as a coach and a coach ambassador, Francesca is happy with her decision, saying “I love being a part of OMD…I know it’s great to have someone to talk to and I enjoy being there to help people along their journey.”

While the coaches follow a structured curriculum for each session—career planning, resumes, interviews, networking, or cover letters— they also have the flexibility to add their own touch. Sue, Francesca, and their group head to Eli’s Cheesecake after each session, because “it gives coaches and students a chance to learn more about each other.” And Francesca includes an ice breaker at the beginning of each meeting that helps the students share what is going on in their lives at the moment.

The result? OMD scholars get the specific academic and career-focused coaching that helps keep them on track to graduate, coaches get the opportunity to share their expertise, and everyone gets the chance to make meaningful connections.

Sue says it well when asked what she gets out of this experience: “I genuinely love being a coach. I spent decades working with college-age students and this is such an interesting time in their lives as they’re figuring out who they want to be and how they want to shape their futures. In reality, I think I’ve learned as much from them as they have from the OMD experience. It’s incredibly gratifying.”

Interested in coaching a City Colleges OMD scholar? Apply now for the Spring semester at onemilliondegrees.org/become-a-coach/ to get onboarded and ready for spring Scholar Development Sessions. Not ready to commit as a coach? Professionals can also join an OMD Career Panel this spring, a one-time, one-hour Saturday session sharing their career journey with second-year scholars. Learn more at onemilliondegrees.org/employer-panels.