It's been five days since I've left. It's been five days since I've seen some of the best people I have had the pleasure to know. It's been five days since I've left behind a little part of me in Vinton, IA.
It was incredible. The last ten months have been filled with happiness, frustrations, joys, and true friendship. It's amazing to think that ten months ago I knew none of the amazing people I can now call family. The experience of FEMA Corps cannot be fully comprehended by someone who hasn't experienced the program fully through. If you ask someone who left in the beginning about the program, they would most likely go down the list of all negatives about everything. But if you then ask someone who stuck it through til the end they'll tell you it wasn't easy or perfect. It wasn't sunshine and rainbows majority of the time. Some of the time we had no work to do! You didn't always get along with everyone on your team. But...they'll tell you also how much it helped them see new perspectives, personally and professionally grew, how to work within a team, and how to take up that leader role in the most odd and unexpected times.
North Central Class 20 grew together. We became closer to each other, we became a family. I will forever remember the late night talks, the times of wondering around campus, and the many adventures at the Voo. No one but my AmeriFamily will truly understand me when I say "Star That!!!" or the pride I have when I wear my A. No one but Pine 5 will understand my passionate singing to Miley Cyrus Bangers album or why the hell I just screamed randomly. I will forever carry those memories of the last ten months. I will tell anyone that will listen about my experiences in AmeriCorps. I will try my best to explain why I count the plane seats between me and the emergency exit and why I look through all of the emergency brochure, even though I already know it by heart. I will try my best to explain what it was like to live with nine other very diverse group of individuals for ten months. I will try my best to explain to you what the real definition of diversity is and how exactly I found out about it. I could go on and on about my life in AmeriCorps and always come up with some new story. But at the moment I will tell you I am struggling...
It's the little things that I miss. The beautiful starry nights in Iowa as I walked with my friends through the streets of Vinton. The laughter of my teammates as we screamed Miley in the van. The feeing of family as everyone arrived back on campus after rounds. The switching of stories between teams in the booths of the Voo. The feeling of belonging as I walk the halls of the campus and having to say hello every five seconds to someone you know. The fact that I could always find someone to talk to, whatever time it was. But it's not just these little things that I miss. I miss being able to hug Jesse, Jeff telling me to be a good kid, Shosh and I somehow messing something up together, Jess and I randomly screaming together because we're bored, Libby and all the TL's making fun of Tony and I as we realized we were matching, and making fun of Spruce 2. I miss when my team would automatically find me when someone was hurt or sick. I miss the random nights out with the girls of the team. I miss the sound of Shosh picking on Jesse and Jess because of their accents. I miss the random dancing. So I guess you could say I miss a lot.
I have been putting this last post off because of the chaos of graduating and the trauma of the goodbyes. Though they were not final goodbyes, it was on of the hardest things I've done. So now I have to settle back into home life, which has been a lot harder than I thought. But over time I know it will be easier.
Thank you all for your support these past ten months. It means everything to me. I'll end this post with the pledge that is now etched on my heart
I will get things done for America - to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.Faced with apathy, I will take action.Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.Faced with adversity, I will persevere.I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.
here is a little team video
http://youtu.be/O6oaUmPzBes
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| Our little girls date night |
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| Oh, how excited we became for Iowa |
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| Pine!!!! During Unitpalooza |
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| Shosh and I |
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| We won Unitpalooza! |
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| Some of my best friends |
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| When one lays on the floor, we all lay on the floor |
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| The Voo |
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| Love |
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| Pops! |
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| Marcel and I! |
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Class 20...We made it!!!!
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