So I found myself on the night before my birthday, which turned out well by the way. Thanks to everyone who remembered. And thank you to my team for helping me celebrate. BY KIDNAPPING ME! ha... but the custard was good and I beat y'all at bowling. Ah the beauty of it all... But honestly, I've never been happier. It's nice to be reassured that people love & care about you. So many people remembered back home, and that means the world to me.
But anyways, I found myself on the night before my birthday, having to write out my first resume. Which turned out to be rather pathetic. A short page & a half. I looked at this resume and thought who is going to look at this and be impressed? NO ONE! Luckily, Summer of Service, the program I was applying for wanted some written statements to some, at first glance, rather simple questions. And so I set out to make up for my meek resume with a heart-felt passionate "paper." It really took a lot out of me. It all started to come together. What I wanted to do, what I had to do to prepare for my dreams, and what the next step was to my future. But once I started to write, it sort of poured out of me. I was shocked with the passion that I hold for such a little idea that I have, and that it could be pourn out through my fingertips. It made me realize, that even with the lack of experience, I whole-heartedly wanted this. I want this for my future, I'm dedicated, and nothing will stop me.
My paper for the Summer of Service Application:
Over the years, I have come to find myself in positions with levels of responsibilities that quite frankly were unexpected and frightened me a little. First of all at age 15 I was helping out an after care program at a private school. I slowly started to realize, not only was I there to keep an eye on these kids until their parents arrived, but that I became an integral part of their day and they looked up to me. Consequently, I took on the role model position to the best of my ability. Even though it scared me that I was making such an impact on someone I grew confident and learned to love that feeling of fulfillment.
Several years later I found myself in a similar position. I was hired last year at a rather small assisted living home. Knowing I would have no immediate supervision, but not expecting the responsibilities I was going to soon learn to take on. I was faced with many challenges on the job. My co-workers took advantage of not having immediate supervision and slacked in many areas of their job. I saw this as a problem, due to the fact that I feel the elderly deserve nothing less than the best treatment after a lifetime of hard work. So I learned how to take on the responsibility of “supervisor” without undermining my boss or my co-workers. Communication and flexibility were two huge skills I improved on in my time there. Needless to say, it worked out for everyone. My boss was pleased with having to deal with less stress, the work was accomplished efficiently, and the residents were treated with a higher standard of quality.
Which leads me to my current position on the AmeriCorps*NCCC as the Vehicle, Safety, & Tools/Assistant Team Leader. I have to admit I was secretly hoping for a role with responsibility but also very reluctant to take it. I didn't know what to expect and I am the youngest on the team. My Team Leader coaxed me into it by saying she felt that the team respected me and that she felt it would give me experience for the future goals. I had to agree, it was a fear I had to overcome. However, I have found it a role that comes naturally. I have not faced any challenges thus far. The team does seem to respect me and I feel as if I balance holding responsibility well while also being viewed as a peer. The future, however, makes me very apprehensive. My Team Leader will be absent for 4 days and that leaves me in charge. And as the youngest team member, I fear my teammates may try to take advantage of the fact that I am not an experienced Team Leader. I am counting on the respect they hold for me, and I do not have a definite course of action if this does occur. Although, I am certain that regardless of my fears if the time comes, I will have the confidence and resources to take charge.
I am also currently working for the St. Bernard Project as a site supervisor to rebuild homes for the people who lost everything in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. And anyone of my teammates and/or staff at the St. Bernard Project will tell you I was nail-biting, stop-you-dead in your tracks nervous for such a responsibility. With my fears alongside me, I took on the job. It offered many challenges, but soon enough I was learning new skills and directing new volunteers every week. When I stepped back and observed myself, I noticed I was confident. I felt adequate for the job. And I can't help but hear my sponsor, Zach, saying, “It's a good thing you're scared, that means you care enough to not screw up.” And looking back, I see a pattern. Everytime I was struck with blood-curdling fear it was because I didn't want to fail, I cared too much to take the job lightly.
And now I want to embark on a new journey, and as all the times before, thinking about it drives the butterflies within me crazy. However, I feel my participation as a crew leader will strengthen the Summer of Service Program because of the passion I have for service. Not only that but I strongly feel the need for that passion to spread like a wildfire through not only our country but specifically the youth. They are the future after all.
Summer of Service is a program I would put my heart and soul into. To spark a fire in youth about service is a dream come true for me. But as much as I would be giving, I would be receiving in return. Summer of Service would facilitate multitudes of gain in my life. Being a Crew Leader would help me conquer many fears, improve my communication and leadership skills, help me attain values upon values, and become a much more independent individual. Although most importantly, it would give me the experience of a lifetime.
My future goals include starting a Bible Camp and a non-profit to involve youth in service. My dream is driven by feeling as a teenager that I wasn't ever offered the opportunity to serve. I do realize I also wasn't searching for it, but I also know that if I would have been made aware of the opportunities out there for me I would have taken advantage of them. So I strongly feel that if I put the word out and encourage youth to be involved, more teenagers will continue a livelong commitment to service. Whether it be longterm or just dabbling in it. I've always wanted to be the world's hero, but realize I can't do that alone. So I feel if I plant the seed of service in as many people as possible, the world will slowly become a better place. And Summer of Service is a program that is screaming my name. It is a calling I've been waiting for. An opportunity to kick start my ideas and feel out the work I want to completely immerse myself in.
I went to bed that night, feeling hopeful.
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