Why Now?

Why did I choose AmeriCorps*NCCC … and why do it NOW?!

The answer may surprise you … and it happens to my ridiculously long.

1. Past service experiences

I’ve chosen to accept a position in AmeriCorps because of my strong background in community service.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, working with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) over two summers in high school is what initially got me PUMPED to serve others.  Honestly, we all serve others every day.  We help our friends and family out with their problems, because we love them.  Most jobs require that we help customers, clients, co-workers, or bosses, because they pay us.  We serve everyone around us by obeying traffic laws, recycling and not littering, getting an education, and living our days peacefully and productively.  But when you take a task that COULD be a job and call it “community service,” something special happens.  Through community service, you serve with no direct benefit to yourself.  No one directly loves you or pays you for your service.  However, there are certainly internal benefits, and there’s the benefit of the experience.  You may learn a new skill or meet an influential person in your life.  You may travel!  SCA took me to Denali National Park in Alaska and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Kentucky (and VA/TN).  SCA gave me a taste of what it means to serve.  It was my gateway program.

Freshman year of college, I found myself with no desire to spend Spring Break week on a (cold) beach with (drunk, underage) friends all living in a (crowded, overpriced) beach house.  Shocker?  So, I woke up at 4:30am, walked all the way across campus, and sat in line for over four hours to sign up to volunteer my time.  Yeah – that’s how intense the culture of service is at W&M.  I got lucky and ended up selecting my first-choice trip.  After a great experience that first year, I jumped at the opportunity to lead a trip the following year.  Why?  Not for any good, dutiful reasons; I just wanted to avoid the line!  Turns out, every subsequent year there was some sort of lottery, because there will ALWAYS be more interested people than there are spots (similar to the AmeriCorps waitlist).  For trip-security and a myriad of other reasons, it was a great choice to be a Site Leader.  By the end of that second year, I determined that I would serve over every Spring Break, just to say that I did.  Trips 3 and 4 were each better than the first two years, and Trip 4 trumped them all (best project, location, group, and culinary experience).  Little did I know that these one-week mini-trips foreshadowed and prepared me for my role as a Team Leader in AmeriCorps.  I didn’t even KNOW about NCCC until the middle of Trip 4 Site Leader training.

I’ve always had a sense of camaraderie with colleagues my chosen major.  The Geology Department is unique in so many ways, from the fantastic trips we take, to the strong student-professor relationships, to the awesomely dorky social events we frequently hold.  Holiday brunches, Chili Cook-offs, and picnics GALORE!  I particularly enjoyed traveling with great friends to off-the-beaten-path places.  Within the AmeriCorps program, I see the opportunity to continue this sort of camaraderie and group travel that I have enjoyed in College.

I feel as though I should also throw in other (random) influences, such as my training in The Phoenix Project, Petersburg, VA, in the summer of ’08.  This intensive program helped me to see behind-the-scenes of running a not-for-profit business, and introduced me to a number of talented individuals who are really “going places.”

Finally, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to lead cooking shifts with the W&M chapter of Campus Kitchens.  This organization is modeled after work by the DC Central Kitchen, and has been providing regular meals to our town for the past three years.  I loved working in the upbeat and sometimes hectic environment, as student from all walks of campus joined together to boil pasta, cut up whole chickens, and portion deserts from local grocery stores.  I also had an amazing co-leader who really made the experience for me!

2. Good education, lack of direction

I absolutely loved school, but after four years of the same routine, I was really ready for a break!  I see myself going back to school sometime in the next few years, but I have no idea in what field or to what degree.  I may branch off from Geology and go into a program for Forestry or Soil Science…  I just don’t know!

Either way, I was definitely NOT ready to apply to graduate programs last fall, and I’m STILL not ready.  Any my strongest instincts and closest mentors have all told me that grad school is NOT just something “to do.”  You have to know what you want, and how you’re going to get it.  So, I wait because it’s best for me.

BUT I also am not ready for any sort of sit-down, career-track, move-my-base-of-operations-permanently sort of gig.  With only a Bachelor’s degree, there’s very little now-a-days for which I am qualified that also falls into the category of “things I’d like to do.”  AmeriCorps fit the bill!

I am overjoyed at the opportunity to spend the coming year 1) employed, 2) not on my own, 3) traveling, 4) organized, 5) content.  As I mentioned before, I love service and I love travel.  And I even love group living.  And I get to be a part of all this for a year, then move on.  I like that.  We’ll see how I feel when I get to the “moving on” phase.

3. Impulsive decision-maker

Here’s how I chose my College.  First: It seemed like I’ve always wanted to go there because it’s a good VA school, and it’s within my family’s budget.  Second: I visited my College once or twice.  And I chose my high school courses with that College in mind.  Third: I applied to my College Early-Decision with no back-up plans at all.  Fourth: I got accepted to my College and never looked back.  I graduated four years later.  Fantastic!

Here’s how I chose my major.  I looked at majors online before I even know I had been accepted into the College.  I thought Geology sounded awesome.  In the first week of school, I went to the department and introduced myself as a major, securing my position on the email listserv.  I took courses to fulfill my major, and never looked back.  Great decision!

Here’s how I accepted my position in AmeriCorps.  First: A friend introduced me to the program as a recent alum, having only the best recommendation.  Second: I applied to the program.  I did have one back-up, but it was half-hearted.  Third: I interviewed at two campuses.  Fourth: I was accepted into the program.  That, plus a lot of paperwork along the way.  And I’m not looking back!

Moral of the story: I am impulsive, but my decisions always seem to work out well for me.  Maybe it’s the kind of person I am, the attitude I have, the training I have to make good decisions…  Or maybe it’s the rose-tinted shades of time…  But I do not regret a single one of my impulse decisions.  When a particular place, project, course, or thing speaks to me … I act accordingly.

4. A girl needs a year

I just don’t have things figured out right now.  I don’t know where I would like to live.  All I know is that I need to be away from home and be independent to a certain degree.

I also don’t know what field I’d like to tackle.  I’ve given a great deal of thought to a number of positions in the National Park Service.  I’ve also considered the USGS, NOAA, and the State Parks system, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages.  I know I need more education to go places, but if I have NO IDEA where I’m going, how can I choose the right degree?

I’m counting on this year with AmeriCorps to keep me busy, allow me to travel, allow me to build different skills, allow me to develop my leadership techniques, and assist me in my future endeavors.  I’m hoping to meet innumerable inspiring people, experience incalculable growth, and serve my National community in the most helpful and meaningful ways.

5. I need to serve

Nearly all my life I have been called to serve.  I don’t fit in with the commercial world, and I refuse to run the rat race.  I don’t think it could ever make me happy.  Digging in and getting my hands dirty (both literally and figuratively) is what makes me feel alive.

As I have named this blog, I sincerely hope I am able to find myself by losing myself in service to others.