The Troy Trojans boast a majestic maroon and gold. My high school was maroon and white. Their similarities run deeper than school colors. My tiny hometown in Illinois with its 20,000 people towers over Troy in size, but not in character. 

I chose national service as a stepping stone into a federal job, and I liked the idea of being the voice for students that I wish that I had when I was their age. The prospect of seeing more of the world (and being on my parent’s insurance still!) was enough to get me searching for a position in beautiful Montana.

I interviewed for a few positions and was stuck with a tough choice. Where did I want to go? An early morning call from the superintendent of Troy broke the tie. I felt very welcomed into the town, and that made my decision easy.

In my service, I act as a bridge for students between high school education and what happens in the career realm. During my years in community college, I wore many hats at various warehouses and manufacturing facilities. These experiences allowed me to gain insight into what skills are useful after graduation.

I instill among the seniors and other age groups that employers appreciate strong math and English skills. I wish I had known when I was 16 that a bit more effort and application could have freed me from debt if I could qualify for merit-based scholarships.

A career goal of mine while I am in Troy is working on my people skills with younger students. In my college/career realm, I dealt with adults daily. It has taken an effort to step into the child within me and approach younger students in the most effective way possible.

Since I am the third AmeriCorps member to serve in Troy, many structures and events are already in place. There is always room for improvement, though. I pride myself on setting realistic goals and executing them, and my chance to shine arose with the 2019 Career Fair. This was a great opportunity for me to apply the knowledge I gained from attending events hosted by the Montana Department of Labor and Board of Education.

It’s wonderful to be able to tie these professional development opportunities into me service, but one issue prominent in the community is the lack of jobs in the area. This shifted my focus from local Troy jobs to local Montana jobs.

I have had the pleasure of working with Jeff Thill, the school’s shop teacher. He gave me many Montana/Idaho contacts, which helped me to bring in 23 employers and get buy-in from the 175 students who attended. The fair was diverse with employers from the trade, healthcare, government, and miscellaneous careers.

One awesome presenter was a Troy alumni who is now the owner of the The Diesel Connection in Idaho. It was impactful to have a former student prove their success to the current students.    

Troy has contributed a new perspective to my life regarding the influence of capital on lifestyles. It is nice to have a break from the name-brand world and the gilded personalities of my hometown. I hope to contribute to Troy’s new perspectives about college and careers. MTCC acts as a catalyst for introducing small towns to people different from them.

“I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort where we overlap.” –Ani DiFranco