Creative Designs Fellow

Thank you for applying for the Creative Designs Fellowship at Commonpoint!

We are excited to learn more about your unique experiences and skills. As part of the selection process, we ask that you complete this initial application that includes a practice task. Think of it as your first opportunity to showcase your expertise!

Due to the competitive nature of this role, we place a strong emphasis on carefully screening candidates to ensure they possess the qualifications, passion, and understanding required to drive meaningful impact. 

We want to hear from you in your own authentic tone of voice. Please do not use artificial intelligence (AI), ChatGPT, or other automated tools to generate your responses. While we understand that AI can be helpful in many contexts, we are assessing not just your skills, but your ability to communicate clearly, think critically, and produce high-quality work independently. Submissions that appear heavily AI-generated may be disqualified.

Please note that there are several questions in this application that require a voice response. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm, insight, and readiness for the role- please bring your best, most genuine self. We look forward to reviewing your responses!

Timeline: 

💡Stage 1: Initial Screening, including a practice task (the form you are filling out now) 
🗣️ Stage 2: Interview & PT Presentation 
✅ Stage 3: Final Offer

Only qualified candidates will be contacted to move onto the next stage of the application process. Please note that we are unable to sponsor visas at this time. Applicants must have current U.S. work authorization and no volunteers at this time- you must be enrolled in an academic credit based internship course at your school or a stipend based program.

Context

Commonpoint’s High School College Success Program supports students through academic advising, workshops, and community-building experiences that help them successfully transition to postsecondary education. As part of an ongoing grant renewal application to sustain this work at a partner school, we share impact updates with external stakeholders, including funders and Commonpoint leadership, to demonstrate both measurable outcomes and meaningful student experiences. This practice task simulates a real project you may work on as a Creative Designs Fellow, focusing on communicating program impact and illustrating why continued funding is essential to our students’ success.

Your Task

You will create a one-page impact report on Canva that highlights one student testimonial and one quantitative outcome from the program. This project should emphasize storytelling, creativity, and showcasing the impact this program has had on students, rather than just listing facts. 

This project reflects a real-world scenario that arrives alongside other ongoing work. We ask that you aim to spend approximately 1 hour completing this task. 

Raw Testimonials

These testimonials are drawn from an anonymous student survey distributed at the end of the program cycle. Together, these voices help illustrate how the program’s impact extends beyond measurable outcomes to shape students’ confidence, sense of belonging, and readiness for postsecondary education. You do not need to include all of them: 

• “Before joining the program, I didn’t really know what college was supposed to look like for someone like me. Having a mentor who checked in every week and helped me break things down made everything feel possible. I’m now applying to schools I never thought I could.”
• “At first, I joined because my counselor suggested it, but I stayed because it became one of the only spaces where I didn’t feel rushed or judged. Some days we talked about college, other days we talked about life, stress, or things going on at home. Having adults who actually listened made me take myself more seriously. I didn’t suddenly have everything figured out, but I started believing that my future was something I was allowed to shape.”
• “Honestly, coming after school and being able to eat, talk, and feel supported mattered more than I expected. It became a place where I felt safe asking questions and planning my future.”
• “Before this program, college felt confusing and out of reach. Now I actually know what steps to take.”
• “Having a mentor check in with me every week made a huge difference. I didn’t feel like I was navigating college applications alone, and that support helped me stay motivated.”
• “At first, I joined because my counselor suggested it, but I stayed because it became one of the only spaces where I didn’t feel rushed or judged. Some days we talked about college, other days we talked about stress, family, or things going on at home. Having adults who actually listened made me take myself more seriously. I didn’t suddenly have everything figured out, but I started believing that my future was something I was allowed to shape.”
• “This program helped me realize that asking for help doesn’t mean I’m failing.”
• “Before joining the program, I didn’t really know what college was supposed to look like for someone like me. I thought it was only for certain types of students. Having a mentor who broke things down step by step and checked in consistently made everything feel possible. I’m now applying to schools I never thought I could and actually believe I belong there.”
• “Coming after school and being able to eat, talk, and ask questions mattered more than I expected. It became a place where I felt supported and safe planning my future.”
• “I feel more confident speaking up for myself in school now.”
• “The workshops helped me think more seriously about my future and what I want after high school. I feel more motivated and excited instead of stressed and overwhelmed.”
• “This program helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect. I came in focused on college applications, but I also learned how to manage stress, take care of myself, and support others. I feel more confident handling challenges now, both in and out of school.”
• “I don’t feel lost anymore. I feel prepared.”

Raw Data

Review the survey questions and scores below. Identify which are strong, and turn them into impact statements for your one pager. You do not need to include all of them:  

• This program helped me take greater ownership of my education, including accountability for completing assignments on time. 75%
• This program increased my motivation to work toward academic and personal success. 82%
• This program helped me build confidence in advocating for myself and others in both school and personal settings. 98%
• This program helped me develop leadership skills by positively influencing others in group activities or discussions. 62%
  This program helped me apply skills to stand up for myself and others, resolve conflicts, and support my peers. 75%
• This program has increased my enthusiasm for learning about potential future career opportunities. 93%
• This program has helped me become more aware of resources available for high school, college, or career readiness. 69%
• This program has helped me understand the importance of self-care for my emotional and physical well-being. 72%
• This program helped me develop strategies to balance school, personal life, and health. 65%
• This program helped me build the ability to maintain a positive mindset during challenging situations 91%

Branding:  

Teal: #008C95 
Light Green: #9CD19B 
Aqua: #5BC2E7 
Purple: #8E3A80 
Orange: #ED8B00

Submission: 

Submit as a PDF (8.5x11) as part of your application on Jotform