This is all a bit overwhelming

The exciting and somewhat terrifying part about AmeriCorps, outside of trying to get by on a really small budget, is the turnover in the positions. Thus, you're trained fast and the learning curve is intentionally steep. I'm lucky in the fact that I'll most likely be at this for two years and that I do have someone who has already been there for a year working with me for the next twelve months, but even then our workplans are kind of completely different, so I'm still on my own for a lot of it.

As a Site Coordinator (SC) the position is kind of really independent and self-lead compared to the bulk of the other positions for which I applied. Thus the Chicago Executive Director is these more so as an adviser to the SCs, he's a great support system, but for the small day to day operations and running the site we call the shots. Scary for someone who has only been at this for two weeks and already I'm expected to be somewhat of an expert. Sometimes it takes a lot of deep breathes to keep it all together and keep from panicking. A lot of telling myself "you can do this." I'm primarily in charge of volunteer engagement and I'm already completely freaked out about recruitment in the fall. Don't get me wrong, I am so psyched that I get to keep working with college students and actively contribute to the fight against poverty, but I have never done this before and I really only have myself to follow. Though I do those 40 or so Loyola students who are giving so selflessly of their time will give me the motivation to figure it all out.

I love the work I am doing and it is awesome to get to engage in direct service, work with clients and get up every morning knowing I am making a difference. However, it was not until this week that the full weight of everything has hit me. These are real people I am working with the problem is no longer a distant issue, I'm not just looking at statistics in a classroom or reading the news and wondering why Congress is so slow to act. For example, the job benefits extension bill sitting in the Senate takes on a whole new meaning, when in two weeks I am met countless people whose life directly rest on the decision of a couple hundred politicians in some distant city. Their struggles are mine and I feel so fortunate that I get the chance to understand poverty on a whole new level, an eye opening experience that I think can only allow me to better make a difference in the world.

It's both scary for me and inspiring that these people put their full trust in me to secure them and their five children housing, to find employment so they don't get evicted from their own or to guide them through applying for food stamps so they can eat everyday. What is most shocking to me? Several of our clients have their bachelors or masters degrees and are struggling with homelessness or have worked for years but are now "unemployable." They've been fighting to get out poverty for months or years, it makes you think there has to be a better way to do this. I've always thought I really knew all I did about these issues, I had no idea.

I've never done any of this before, but I guess that's the point of this type of service.I am learning more than I ever thought possible in such a short amount of time and experiencing real world problems that make me both value and love the eduction and lessons I learned through my International Studies and Geography courses. I am in someway both applying and gaining a deeper understanding of education, I guess it did all pay off in the end.

Sorry for rambling a bit through this post, I had a lot in my head at the end of today, but I am excited to see what tomorrow will bring. Everyday is different and unique and so far I love what I am doing.

Poverty is complicated...getting out of it shouldn't have to be...

Here we go

So here we are. I'm not new to the blogging world, though this is my first time going at it alone and this time around I felt a new space was needed for a new approach. Don't worry I am not abandoning my efforts over at apt212, I'm just branching out into a new place to diversify my thoughts.

My life has been a whirlwind lately and I have thought often about blogging about my new experiences, but needed sometime to put my thoughts in order. Graduating college, returning to Chicago jobless, finding a job, moving out, starting a new chapter of my life. It has been a crazy two months.

I had been a little up in the air, as with all things in my life, about what I wanted to do after college. I was sure I did not want to go to grad school right away, I did not want to enter the corporate world and I knew I wanted to give back to the world. So I applied and applied and applied and then I came across the perfect experience. I applied, I interviewed and I got it! So on Tuesday, July 6th, I embarked on two years of Service as an AmeriCorps*National Direct Corps member serving LIFT as a Site Coordinator in the Uptown office in Chicago, IL.

A few people asked me if I was going to blog about my experience and I had thought about it, but that was the push I needed. I feel like this is going to life changing and thus I want to chronicle my experience and I want to share it all with you. My friends and colleagues from Miami University, the people I have met along the way and those who happen to stumble upon this.

I am still not sure what I want to do with my life, but I hope these two years will help solidify where I want to go next. Thus this blog comes with the tag line "Finding my inspiration"" and I believe I will find it at LIFT whether through my own work, the volunteers I work with or the clients I serve. Additionally, I am a huge believer in getting your hands dirty and facing global challenges, instead of just talking about how terrible things may be. I spent a lot of time discussing solutions in classes without every getting to get out there and experience. It's time for me to put my words into action. Therefore, you get the title of this blog, in addition to it being a line from my favorite song.

I hope you will follow along the next two years as I enter my post college life and embark what will sure to be an exciting term of service. I will do my best to entertain you along the way.

Peace out!