Friday, August 8, 2014
My Year of Service
Krysel Walasik serving at South Bay Community Services
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| "We are supposed to leave this “mark” on our communities and look back and see the difference we have made, but the thing that has changed most is me." |
When
I first heard about AmeriCorps, I was told it was a chance to give back to my
community and make a difference in the lives of people who are less fortunate.
When I started serving at Chula Vista, I had high hopes that I would make a
strong impact and build sustainable programs that would change people’s lives
in a grand way. AmeriCorps introduces you to your year of service as if it will
be the most influential and impactful year of your life; I don't think they set
you up to fail, I think they try to build you up as much as possible so you can
have the confidence to make some, however small, influences. As the year has
come and gone, I am reflecting on my time in Chula Vista and the “grand” impact
my work has made on the community. I have developed programs and created strong
foundations for sustainability, but these programs are not what I think of most
when I reflect on my year. We are supposed to leave this “mark” on our
communities and look back and see the difference we have made, but the thing that
has changed most is me.
When
I reflect on my year of service, I think about the smiling faces of the
students, the understanding in parents’ eyes, and the loving hearts in the
community. I have come to learn so many things from the people that I have met
this year, and I can only hope that they have learned something from me. I have
made life long bonds with new friends and have gathered so much knowledge from
those around me. The students have reminded me how simple and amazing life is,
through their constant curiosity and considerable amounts of energy. The
parents have shown me what it means to work hard, while also being a mentor and
role model for their children. The community members have taught me what it
means to give back and care for others, despite the fact that there may be no
direct benefit. My parent and community engagement team has shown me what
unconditional love of others is, what it means to bend over backwards for a
complete stranger, how hard work can make a difference, and most importantly
that a team must work together to produce change.
When I reflect on my year, I do not
think of the countless hours spent creating a sustainable PTA or the headache
that stemmed from building a seamless School Pantry program for next year. I
think of how I became part of a new community and how I have grown from every
person I have met. I may not have changed a low income community with any
“grand” programs or transformed it magically into a flourishing area, but I
have seen the smiles on people’s faces, the small change in their eyes, and
have met the individuals, my co-workers, who will continue working to make
Chula Vista a great community for years to come. I am thankful every day for
the decision I made to become an AmeriCorps member, it has allowed me to change
and grow in an unforgettable way.
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