Your Big Year

Your Big Year The playbook no one told me: Career tips, student stories, and real-world opportunities to help you build skills, gain experience, and create impact.

Diversity and inclusion has always been at the heart of everything we do, and we actively seek out backgrounds and perspectives that range from the manifold of experiences that relate to what it means to be human. At Your Big Year, we celebrate your unique ancestry, color, physical or mental disability, place of origin, race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation - what makes you, you!

06/17/2026

Not gonna lie, I'd probably have walked away 😅

Hanan did the opposite.

She saw someone she never thought she'd get the chance to talk to and just went:

"Hey, can I ask you a few questions?"

That one conversation completely changed how she thinks about opportunities.

💭 So... what's one message you've been putting off sending?

,

06/16/2026

Nobody really tells you what to do when graduation starts feeling real.

The job market is changing.
AI is changing everything.
And a lot of students are asking the same question:

"Will I actually find a job?"

While studying at university, Brock joined the IBM Z Student Ambassador Program, where he started building technical skills, connecting with industry professionals, and gaining experience beyond the classroom.

🎓 What's one thing you're doing right now to prepare for life after graduation?

📚 THE PLAYBOOK NO ONE TOLD MEShe sent 30 emails before someone said yes.Most people never see the opportunities they wan...
06/15/2026

📚 THE PLAYBOOK NO ONE TOLD ME

She sent 30 emails before someone said yes.
Most people never see the opportunities they want because they stop after the first rejection.

Meta kept going.

The 30th email changed everything.

Her story isn’t really about email.
It’s about what happens when you stop waiting for opportunities and start creating them.

Read Meta’s full story on Medium.

💬 What’s one opportunity you’ve been waiting for instead of creating?

06/15/2026

It's saying yes to opportunities.

It's building skills before you need them.

It's connecting with people who challenge and inspire you.

This summer, students from across the country are taking part in the AI Accelerator, investing in themselves, their careers, and their futures.

Because the best opportunities often go to those who prepared before they arrived.

đŸ’„ What's one thing you're doing this year to invest in your future?

This is still time to join the AI Accelerator. https://www.yourbigyear.com/ai-campus-connect

This might be the most crowded Your Big Year¼ meetup we've ever had. 🩭Somewhere on a beach surrounded by hundreds of sea...
06/12/2026

This might be the most crowded Your Big Year¼ meetup we've ever had. 🩭

Somewhere on a beach surrounded by hundreds of seals, one of our community members stopped to capture a reminder:

Big opportunities don't always happen in classrooms, offices, or networking events. Sometimes they happen when you say yes to an experience you've never had before.

Every week we share photos from members of the Your Big YearÂź community around the world.

Because every Big Year looks different.

👇Tell us:
What's one thing you've done this year that pushed you outside your comfort zone?

GrowthMindset FutureReady

06/11/2026

đŸŽ„ Introducing *How I Got Here*, a series where professionals share the pivotal moments, challenges, and decisions that shaped their careers.

"I was told that I was too young. That I would have to wait my turn."

For many, success isn't a straight line. It's built through resilience, determination, and the courage to keep moving forward when others say "not yet."

Watch this inspiring story and discover the moment that helped shape the journey.

▶ Watch the full interview on YouTube - https://youtu.be/7W69M2M6mVw?si=7kpi1VfokkQZB_bP

People are more willing to help than you think.When Hanan joined our Your Big Year Program, one of her biggest challenge...
06/09/2026

People are more willing to help than you think.

When Hanan joined our Your Big Year Program, one of her biggest challenges was reaching out to someone she admired for an informational interview.

Like many young people, she wondered:
- Who do I contact?
- What do I say?
- Why would they want to talk to me?

What she discovered changed the way she approaches opportunities:
"People are more willing to help than I initially thought."

That simple realization became one of the most valuable lessons she carried forward. It gave her the confidence to ask questions, start conversations, and step beyond her comfort zone.

Her advice?
- Don't be scared.
- Ask.
- Go beyond your limits.

And perhaps my favorite takeaway from our conversation:
"Regretting not doing something is a lot worse than regretting doing it."

Read her story: https://medium.com//people-are-more-willing-to-help-than-you-think-97a9984a57a6

Readers Challenge: What's one question you've been afraid to ask? Consider sending that message this week. The answer might surprise you.

05/29/2026

Just get the badge!

Stand out in this job market with IBM SkillsBuild micro-credentials❗

Join the AI Accelerator with IBM SkillsBuild by scanning the QR code at the end of this video

Don’t slack off this summer, up-skill instead!

05/15/2026

Ooops, we didn’t see you there... Pittsburgh! Your summer just got a whole lot bigger.

This August, Your Big Year¼ is bringing a FREE youth experience designed to help you build real-world skills, meet industry professionals, explore career pathways, and connect with other young leaders from around the world 🌎

What’s included?
⭐ Hands-on workshops
⭐ Speed networking with industry leaders
⭐ Access to a live professional conference
⭐ Lunch, swag, and a t-shirt
⭐ Experiences across some of Pittsburgh’s most exciting institutions

Ages: 14–20 (some exceptions apply)

Cost: FREE thanks to SYTA Youth Foundation 🙌

Save your spot now before it’s gone! Link in bio

Address

San Francisco, CA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Your Big Year posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Your Big Year:

Shortcuts

Share

Category