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I joined AmeriCorps after realizing that there was more to life than just being a student. During my college years, I took a step away from volunteering. After graduating and starting graduate school, I realized that it was a part of my life that I missed. I went to the career office and spoke with a counselor who told me about AmeriCorps*NCCC.
During training, we cleaned up an inner city neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland. I grew up in upstate New York across the street from a cow farm. I had never really experienced the inner city before and I was a little nervous.
Many possible worst-case scenarios raced through my head as we arrived in the city. However, I remembered that I wanted to challenge myself and this was the perfect opportunity. About two hours into our work, a man came out of one of the houses and asked what we were doing. We explained and he asked if he could help. His offer changed the way I felt about what I was doing. I went about my work with a new sense of purpose. Not only was I cleaning the neighborhood, I was setting an example and introducing the possibility of a lasting impact by involving the community members.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve my country while staying in my country. I know I will never take a step back again from volunteering because there is always something to be done. |
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