And away we go...

So in our VISTA Pre-Service Orientation Participant's Manual, there is a fun little drawing entitled "A Common VISTA Cycle of Service." While most of us begin with more enthusiam than most others ever muster, we eventually come to a point where we have second thoughts, but then eventually become contributors and then reach our peak performance. Thus far, I would have to say the chart is right on point.

In the very beginning, at PSO, I was determined to make a giant change at LLCC. While I'm still determined to do so, I'll admit there have been a few points where I'm like "what the...am I doing here?? This is pointless!" After the volunteer fair I coordinated last week, though, I couldn't be happier with my job. We had such an amazing turn out, great media coverage, and I was on cloud 9 for the rest of the week. I also made a bunch of great connections, which is always a good thing!

One big thing I'm working on right now is actually with the Jacksonville LLCC center (I work on the main campus in Springfield). Jacksonville, IL has just as many homeless people as Springfield, despite the drastic difference in population (Jacksonville is a small college town, with barely 19,000 people); despite this, Jacksonville doesn't have a single shelter, while Springfield is fighting for a day shelter. Ridiculous? Yes, indeed. However, I have quite a few connections in Jacksonville (including the State's Attorney, Sheriff, and Mayor) and I am going to help make a huge difference in Jacksonville in the coming months.

Time to get to work!

(PS - one of the news videos from the fair:)


http://www.wandtv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?clipId1=4479465&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=LLCC%20holds%20%22Volunteer%20Fair%22%20to%20encourage%20public%20participation&d1=91800&redirUrl=&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv&rnd=29354273

Time sure flies...

Time has been FLYING this week...oh, well I guess it is only Tuesday, but aren't Monday and Tuesday usually the hardest days to get through anyway?

Yesterday, we had a Kwanzaa celebration here. While it was a bit awkward (particularly the commentary from one audience member wanting to know why a "white girl" is participating), it was also a lot of fun. I even got to dress up and be in a fashion show - most people can't say that about their jobs! haha Not to mention, I got to have cornbread, ribs, fried chicken, and pie for lunch. It was a pretty good day!

Today I had to help out with the slam poet we had here since the Multicultural Awareness Center's director is out sick. It was an interesting event and I have become a pro at folding vinyl tableclothes (haha). It definitely helped the time go by and for that I'm grateful.

I've come to realize that if I can survive until 10am and find things to do, the rest of the day will fly by - it's all about surviving those first couple of hours. Fortunately, I have plenty to do to keep me busy until winter break (SO excited for two weeks paid vacation!!)

Ooh speaking of keeping busy - I am in the process of organizing Lincoln Land's first Volunteer Fair! It will be on January 21st and I couldn't be more excited. We're working with the Community Volunteer Center here on campus but I am officially the project manager. Not only is it exciting to have this much responsibility, but honestly I'm just stoked to have so much to do! It's a nice change of pace to not have to actively search for work to do. Plus I got to design the t-shirts for the fair so yay me :D haha

Whelp, guess it's time to get back to work!

Long Time Gone

Well it’s been a long time since I have blogged on this site and I must say things have definitely changed (well…kinda). When I first started, I felt like I spent a lot of my time doing mindless work that was leading me nowhere. Now, though, things are definitely starting to pick up!

I organized a blanket drive here that ended up being a great success! We had almost 40 blankets, 40 stocking caps, 20 pairs of gloves, and 6 coats donated. Not gonna lie, dropping the donations off was a little scary. I stayed late on Friday as no one was at the shelter until 6pm for me to go and drop everything off. There I was driving through an unknown part of downtown Springfield in the dark, and I was so nervous. Plus I ended up having to walk down this alleyway to get to the drop-off door. But anyway – it was really nice getting to meet a few new people who were working at the shelter and it was interesting to learn more about how things work there. I should have been left with a good feeling after dropping off the donations but all I kept thinking was “why can’t I do more?? What else can I do??”

I am very excited, though, about Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The Faces of the Homeless Panel should be very interesting, as I’ve heard great things from people who saw it in years past. I am also looking forward to our “Pack the Van” food drive. It’s been really fun organizing these events and I can’t wait for it all to come together next week!
I love how busy I’ve been, it has helped the workdays go by so much faster than before. Not to mention, it’s nice feeling like I’m actually doing something rather than a lot of the random work I was doing (i.e. cutting, pasting, and decorating things).

I can’t believe it’s already over a week into November! Ahhh! Where is time going??

Wow what a Monday!!

Today has been quite the day! I designed and put up the September display board for the hallway (Hispanic Heritage Month! Woot woot! haha) Then I had my weekly meeting with my supervisor in which she tells me that she'd like the service-learning guide finished and published by my meet-and-greet reception (end of September) - totally possible, and I'm actually REALLY excited about it, but I'm still like "Ah! What if people think it's horrible?" haha
My supervisor also informed me that I am "way ahead of schedule" as I have almost every goal completed that they had set for me for the Fall semester; guess this just means bettering that which I've already completed and finding new ones :D

Also, I am currently helping and am going to be serving as advisor for the Circle K club that is being established here - I'm VERY excited about this (especially since the student service e-mail list I've set-up is now going to prove quite useful in recruiting members haha)! LLCC has so many people willing and wanting to help and yet so few willing to step up and take charge.

And finally, a new brochure came out called "Campus Experts" and I'm in it regarding community service (though I have never claimed to be an expert in anything lol). I hope, though, that this will perhaps prompt more faculty and students to come and chat with me. haha

What a wonderful Monday it has been!

Phew what a whirlwind

Life as a VISTA definitely keeps me on my toes. While I still feel as though I'm lacking direction sometimes, I'm consistently busy nonetheless. Today was absolutely wonderful. It was "Club Day"/Loggerpalooza and I promoted AmeriCorps and the Community Volunteer Center; the best part was getting to know those who work over at the CVC better. I also got to hear some live music which was great.

It's been a productive day and I'm not ready to stop yet! I should blog more to keep better track of all that I do but I only have internet at work most days so yeah...maybe I'll write up a real update on Friday!

Hello, Week 4

Oh my goodness, it is HOT in my office right now - this is not conducive to a productive start of the work week. I think I am going to be spending most of today cutting out little cards to staple to candy bars for Friday's candy/note day; I learned last week that I am incapable of cutting things in a straight line and I should perhaps re-enroll in Kindergarten. My supervisor is officially on maternity leave and was due yesterday (though I haven't heard yet as to whether her baby Eli has arrived yet ). LLCC is a flurry of activity this morning - I still can't believe how many students are here, it's awesome.
Fortunately my supervisor went over my draft for the SL resource guide before leaving so once I'm done with these ridiculous notecards, I can hopefully work on draft #2. Other than that, I really don't have much going on here. Time to get back to cutting paper...whooohoo.

Starting my third week (holy cow...)

Wow I really can't believe this is already going to be my third week of work! Last week literally flew by; this week, though, seems to be progressing a little bit slower. Yesterday all I did was work on notes to attach to candy to hand out to students next week and also worked on the SL resource guide. The more I read about SL and the more examples I see, the more I feel like this guide that I'm writing needs to be easy to read. As a college student, I never would have read a long drawn-out guide about SL if I didn't have to; I get what SL is, I don't need 8 pages that repetitively explain it. I'm hoping my skills as a writer will get me through this, allow me to cut where possibly and go into depth where I think it's truly needed (i.e. overcoming obstacles and project ideas). While SL isn't as well used as it should be, I still feel as though a college faculty member knows what is generally and doesn't have the time or patience to read a 6-paragraph definition--after all, one of the obstacles mentioned was lack of time--it's supposed to be a guide, not a book. I really don't know who I'm trying to rationalize here haha. It's just that writing is what I do and I want this guide to be as amazing as possible. I think I may talk to the community volunteer center shortly for suggestions and whatnot. Time to get back to work on it, I'm motivated now that I've warmed up!

2022 update- One day I'll work for a Montessori homeschool curriculum company and wow - will things play out differently than I could have ever expected. Have to appreciate the adventure though, eh? 😂😂😂