
Zac, an OFY graduate turned OFY Marketing Intern, has been hard at work. One of his recent projects was to create a video highlighting Options For Youth’s many international and domestic trips. Having been to Italy with OFY himself, Zac understood these trips—to places such as Cuba, China, Washington D.C., and many more—are something most students will never get to experience. He wanted this project to make an impact.
With more than 310,000 views and counting across YouTube and Instagram, Zac certainly has made an impression. “This is my favorite project I’ve worked on since joining OFY’s team,” says Zac. “It really allowed me to be creative and share with everyone the school and programs that meant so much to me.”
As far back as he can remember, Zac wanted to be an artist. Like many students, Zac was introduced to Options For Youth by a family member, where he finally found what he’d been looking for in his other schools. At OFY, Zac received the encouragement and support he needed to pursue his passion. During this time, he began to grow as an artist, utilizing OFY’s flexible schedule to pursue his passion outside of the classroom and broaden his skillset to include graphic design, animation, and filmmaking. His artistic talent made such an impact on OFY’s staff, in 2015 Zac became an after school Art Instructor, teaching his peers advanced methods and techniques.
Zac graduated from OFY in spring 2016, ready to put his artistic talent to work. Through OFY’s Alumni Association newsletter, Zac learned the corporate office was hiring a paid summer intern to work with the marketing team. Realizing this was a great opportunity to build his resume and skillset, he submitted his resume. During his interview his enthusiasm and creativity were evident and he was offered the position.
In July, Zac started working part-time at OFY’s corporate office, helping to edit and archive footage and take photos at events—events he himself had just been attending as a students a few months prior. Zac’s talent and drive garnered him an extension of his internship and a full time schedule. He started to move from a supportive role to a creative role, receiving guidance (you never stop learning!) from OFY’s seasoned videographers.
“It’s a great feeling to know I am introducing OFY to so many people,” says Zac. “OFY opened up a world of opportunities for me, and now I get to share those experiences with others.”