Completing a Commitment before Breaking My Commitment

I recently accepted another job and will be leaving my term of service early. However, I want to make sure I don’t completely flake on the commitments I have made. In an effort to contribute to AmeriCorps Week I am trying to compress the projects into one day. After all, if I take no other lesson away from the time I have served it is this – work smarter not harder. So I am using my best VISTA problem solving skills to make this happen in one day.

I can start by making promotional material for the NACL food drive and AmeriCorps and make awareness posters about shelter hounds and writing to your mentor… but how will the homeless people know who they are?

Oh I got it, I can have a hound help me decorate awareness name tags for a homeless shelter and I will write letters to my mentors about the importance of volunteerism and AmeriCorps… wait, I forgot about the Letter Carriers Food Drive.

OK, I’ll have Letter Carriers write to their mentors about holding a food drive and have homeless people walk hounds… but that leaves me with too much arts and crafts.

What if I have Letter Carriers walk a hound while picking up food and delivering awareness posters about volunteerism. I will then drop off name tags at homeless shelter where I will have residents write letters to their mentor. Close, but I can do better…

I’ll give homeless hounds with name tags to Letter Carriers as a thank you for being a mentor to the community for their volunteerism and I’ll make awareness posters to promote the event!

Then reflect on my VISTA ingenuity.

Waiting...

Has anyone shared this experience? This is an example of the blessing and curse of working with students. It all starts with an email. "Can you please help me?" The response is quick and optimistic. "I'd be happy to. Here's what you can do." Weeks may pass and then another, more desperate plea. "Do you remember me? I need to have these hours done in two weeks!"

With patience and promise, again, I ask that they call me as soon as possible so that we can work out the details. After another few days, at least, I will receive another similar email with an apology for not calling, but letting me know they still are need of hours. If they have given me their number, all this time would also be spent trying to reach them via cell or text. When I finally do get them into a program, their energy and enthusiasm are unparalleled. Clients can be seen smiling and meaning is manifested. As one manager and I remarked, "they are great, when they are here."

After months and months of back and forth, she came. This student is a state amongst herself. Showing up about an hour late, I brought her straight to the activity and helped her get started. The clients were full of stories and questions, to which she engaged with them extensively and intensively throughout the day. Once I even saw her cry. Listening and learning she began posing her own questions and laughing with an ease that I was very happy to experience. I believe that she truly made a difference to all those she helped. Everyone enjoyed themselves, including our student.

I would walk in the door and hear, "when is she coming back?" As her hours were completed, time will tell if she will keep her promise of returning. As of now, I am waiting...