We all fear the unknown, but some people live it everyday, not knowing when their next meal will be or if they are going to wake up the next day. I personally feared failure in the face of ambition when I made my decision to serve Montana Campus Compact under AmeriCorps as a leader for Flagship. I feared not being able to make it here after wanting this for two years because of my financial situation, but sometimes you just have to go for it anyways.
Two flights and a car ride later, I was here not knowing what to expect. Running an after-school program for at-risk students, you want them to have fun, feel safe, with bellies full, and minds ready to learn. Some days are better than others, but knowing that they are here instead of being alone or engaging in dangerous behavior makes any stress worth it.

The photo above shows me in 7th grade

Serving middle school students makes me think about back when I was in their shoes (except for the iphones, can’t relate there). We were all so awkward and wanting to be understood.
 Using my own past experiences, even in my disillusionment of jumping into so many unknowns, I use empathy to relate to my students. I don’t see bad kids, but rather troubled souls and see the importance of working with their families to make sure that they are successful in my programs. I teach kids to look out out for one another and to see how my volunteers are trying to help them. The more that we are aware of our own impact in other’s lives, the more inclined students are to think before they act and observe before they deter.
One example of this is when I had to talk to a student’s guardian because of their constant misbehaving and it turns out that they had just recently started fostering the student, so they were just as curious as I was about how to help them succeed. They were so worried about their child being kicked out because my programs were the only option that they had for them. I worked with the guardian to make sure he can continue to move forward with us. Even among the chaos of whirlwind days, being able to serve in such ways makes it worth it.
Americorps as a whole is an incredible way to “get things done” for an amazing organization, while making an impact nationwide. It introduces you to great people you wouldn’t have met otherwise and shows how important you are in society. Whether you are working with youth outdoors, or in offices, your service is helping so much more than you realize. I’m grateful for this opportunity. I can’t wait to take on more challenges with a kind smile and open heart.