Program Details

My name is Sam Koehler, and I’m wrapping up my time with the Destiny Outreach (DO!) Entertainment Apprenticeship Program. I joined a little over eight months after finishing film school, feeling aimless and unsure of how to navigate building a career in this industry.
In one of our first training sessions, we were asked to draw a picture of where we were in our careers. I drew myself thrashing in a vast ocean, expending all my energy to stay afloat but not moving forward. I felt like I was constantly working without getting any closer to my goals and without a clear sense of how any of it would help me get there.
Now, after my time at DO!, I feel like I’m finally swimming.
This program has given me a deeper understanding of my skillset, a community of driven creatives, a network of industry professionals in Chicago, and real, on-the-ground experience in the field I want to pursue—all of which I’m incredibly grateful for.
The first half of the program, focused on personal development and career planning, helped me clarify where I want to go and how others have gotten there, while also opening doors to meaningful connections. The second half, where I worked as a Videographer/Documentarian with the non-profit LISC, gave me hands-on experience in independent production while allowing me to witness the impact of community-driven work, something that strongly aligns with my own aspirations.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to do extended, paid work in a field that can be difficult to break into, and I’m excited to continue building on the momentum DO! has given me.