One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time -- André Gide (via @PandoProjects)
I am facing approximately 4 days left in the office to complete my term as an AmeriCorps VISTA. This week ends with a Clippers Game in place of the Quarterly Meeting with my VISTA compatriots across the state, and Friday starts my vacation. When I return next week, I will have two days left.
I am not as good at reflecting as Molly Dull, who I would call a professional reflector, so the last few posts before June 17th will not include such golden nuggets as "AmeriCorps shines the light on poverty but doesn’t recreate it, and that is because poverty is far too complicated to simulate for just one year. I think my understanding that my temporary void-of-a-bank-account was just that—short-lived—really allowed me to ask the more intimidating questions about poverty, like what I will do in my life to continue actively combating it once June 20 rolls around." See? She's awesome.
These last couple weeks are a frustrating point in my service, mainly because of a lack of significant activities. My organization/program cycles through VISTA terms constantly, and staggers terms. Therefore, my work is going to continue (hopefully) without a hitch when the next VISTA comes in, and will be ushered along by fellow VISTAS and staff who have been doing the work for a long time. I can't schedule meetings or start new projects. I don't have any major events or ends to tie up, I'm not panicking that people won't know what's going on after I leave, and I'm not using these last few weeks to set my legacy. I've worked extremely hard that past 12 months to propel the program forward and integrate my talents into the program functionality, building my legacy along the way. Now I am left with 4(ish) days to write end of service reports, guides, send good-bye emails to my contacts and clean my desk. (ut oh on that last task...I'm extremely bad at parting with pieces of paper).
My new shores look to be a new media consulting job in Washington DC. I hope to never loose my "starving to serve" calling, and plan on continuing this sporadic record of service into the next chapter of my life. Both my sister and I have become coincidentally involved in sex trafficking organizations here in Columbus, and I would love to continue advocacy/outreach to human trafficking victims in DC as my new form of service. Hunger and poverty have a lot of very powerful voices out there, fighting for our fellow citizens basic needs. Hunger is a bipartisan issue, and typically gets a lot of ground covered. I'm not sure if the sex trafficking industry is as bad in DC as it is in Ohio, but I want to be a voice to the voiceless and advocate for a group of people who are often overlooked, or more likely looked down upon. I've already found organizations like the Polaris Project based in DC, but am looking for other opportunities.
My "land" has been Ohio for my entire life, but I'm pumped to loose sight of it and try my hand in DC. For a while at least.
