My Year of Service

 Krysel Walasik serving at South Bay Community Services

"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.



"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."