Well. It is official. After 2 1/2 years of dedicating my life to AmeriCorps, all of my hard work has paid off.
In October of 2010 I took quite a leap of faith in moving to Denver with only 2 weeks notice. This was very unlike me to do something so spontaneous without a plan. I think that moment in my life was the hardest, bravest and most life changing decision ever. So I packed, moved to Denver and set off on the biggest adventure of my life. I spent 10 months meeting lifelong friends, doing work that made a difference, and traveling the country. Because I learned to have a love of service, I decided to dedicate myself to yet another year with AmeriCorps.
I learned about Big Brothers Big Sisters when we were in Denver and they said "choose one of these nonprofits to visit and go learn about it". So I got to go visit BBBS in Denver and fell in love with the concept. At that meeting they had an employee who was a former AmeriCorps*VISTA and I thought "Oh, so that's how you get into such a great job". So then the search began and I applied to 6 different BBBS not caring where I went, I just knew this job was wanted I wanted to try next. After coming close to getting a position in Seattle, I received the call that they wanted me in Spartanburg, SC. *Really? I'm going to move to South Carolina? Ok!*
I am so proud of myself for being fearless. The old Annie would have been scared out of her mind moving to a place knowing absolutely NO ONE, but this new and improved Annie was nothing but excited for what lay ahead. Although it was one of the most challenging years of my life, I felt everything that had happened (for better or worse) once again helped me to continue to grow. I learned a lot about what it meant to be in a professional setting, but also learned what profession I did not intend on furthering. I learned that social work was indeed not for me. Although I love what BBBS is all about and will one day be a Big Sister myself, it was just not the right fit for a job for me *cross that one off the list*.
My saving grace in SC was when I met Travis. I felt once I met him, my time in SC was more bearable. Then, 5 months later he had to move back to KY and I was heartbroken, but deep down knew that wasn't the end for us. So, once again, here is the even more new and improved Annie deciding to move with Travis to Louisville, KY. "Sure! Why not!?". (Where all this spontaneity came from, I don't know that I'll ever know, but am ever so grateful for it).
So, ok. I'm moving to Louisville. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do for a job, but that will NOT stop me. I'll work multiple part-time jobs if I have to but I was determined something was going to work out. Then I discovered the Louisville Science Center (now renamed Kentucky Science Center since then). I applied for a part time job there, no luck, applied for another job there, they want me in for an interview! Wahoo! But at the same time I was up for a position as VISTA Leader (sure, I can handle yet another year of living in poverty doing great work for a new community...). As the Science Center didn't work out in my favor (this time) I was lucky enough to have received the position with AmeriCorps.
This third chance with AmeriCorps has been quite amazing. It has showed me how fantastic Louisville really is. I have been able to network with such amazing people throughout the whole city, while helping to improve the VISTA program here.
I was very frustrated by the fact that when I first came here, the VISTAs really didn't know each other all that well. This hit me hard because my VISTA girls (Sparkles!!) got me through a lot in SC. VISTAs need each other, because no one else can truly understand the frustrations and excitements that being a VISTA can bring. So I made it my goal here in Louisville to create that sense of togetherness for my VISTAs. I was only responsible for 10 VISTAs coming into this, so for the first couple of months I researched and researched and finally found over 20 VISTAs (and counting) in Louisville. I was able to invite all these VISTAs to the trainings I put on, as well as get togethers here and there. This created a whole new community of VISTA members and increased the resources for VISTAs to have to help them have a successful year.
Although it is hard to leave me position here, I have finally found my calling. I was constantly checking the Science Center's website for newly posted jobs, just on the off chance that something might come up. Now, I feel I need to make this clear, I have loved everything about my position here as VISTA Leader, I have an amazing supervisor, amazing coworkers, the best group of VISTAs, a fantastic workplace, and a great network of people who helped me through. I am not at all disappointed with my time here, I just happened to find my dream job with really bad timing.
So. I found the position of Administrator of Volunteer Services with the newly named Kentucky Science Center, and it is everything I could have asked for in a dream job. Not only am I going to be able to utilize my General Science degree (was completely convinced it wasn't going to come in handy ever) but also all my experience coordinating volunteers with AmeriCorps. I support everything the Science Center is about and now have the tools and resources within this community to help enhance and expand the volunteer program.
It feels amazing after 2 1/2 years of living year to year, not knowing what the next August would bring, where I would be moving, what kind of a job I would have, to finally have a place to call home. I feel my feet are finally on stable ground and I can really begin to start living my adult life not feeling like I'm constantly on the move. This experience with AmeriCorps has been the best of my life. But look forward to it only getting better here in Louisville.
You want to know how I know that I can look back and call my life a success up to this point? Everything I do, I stop to think what my dad would think of all of this. And I can honestly say, I think he would be blown away at the person I have become. I have inherited a lot of his traits and mannerisms (not all necessarily for the better), but I am so grateful to have carried on his love of adventure, and his passion for having such high hopes and dreams. I will never stop dreaming big, and never stop fighting to get and give the best out of life.
As one journey ends, yet another begins. This is the beginning of the rest of my life. It feels so amazing that all my hard work of searching for what I am truly passionate for has paid off. It has all brought me here, to Louisville, to do amazing things.
So, I bid adieu to this AmeriCorps Blog, as there is no more of this story to tell. I look forward to being able to look back on this blog and be reminded of the most amazing journey of my life, so that I may never forgot the people, places, and experiences that have made me who I am today. I am so very thankful to all of those that contributed to this journey, and hope that your support continues with me on this new and bigger journey called life. Welcome to adulthood, Annie, you sure are going to need it.
