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...