Serving your Country
With Veteran’s Day this week I was thinking about volunteering and how this has helped shape my life.
Out of College I was unsure what to do with my life. Should I go on for my Master’s degree, look into Doctorate programs, head to work, or volunteer?
I always wanted to serve in the Peace Corps and I began the long process of application. It seemed like I spoke with my recruiter daily. He would call me from Chicago to get more information, see how I was doing, and ask and answer questions. They really want to know Everything about you!
The end was in sight and I received my Country of placement as Ghana. When my recruiter told me my leaving date, I immediately told him that I couldn’t leave on that date. He asked why and I told him that my best friend’s Wedding was on that day. He informed me that the ticket is set and it is either that date or not at all. Unfortunately I had to withdraw my application.
I stumbled upon a National program called AmeriCorps shortly thereafter. I started to look into programs and found one in Northern California that helped survey and protect coho salmon, chinook salmon, and steelhead, which are fish if you don’t know.
Since I grew up in a fishing family and later would go on to get my 100-ton captains license, this program really interested me. I applied to the AmeriCorps*USA Watershed Stewards Program. Almost instantly I received a call from the director for an interview.
During the interview they were amazed that I new about steelhead and coho salmon! It was a great fit from the beginning.
I spent 3.5 years in Northern California living in Arcata and working with the California Department of Fish and Game out of Fortuna, California. I worked on stream surveys, salmon carcass surveys, stream restoration, classroom education, and lots more. It was a life changing volunteer service for me. I wouldn’t take this time back in my life for anything.
This leads me to my question, what can you do to serve your country? I did not risk my life during my national service, but I did volunteer my time to help improve our Country and educate our future.
Everyone is so rushed to find a career and start making money out of College. Maybe you should take a look at what the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, the military, and other national service organizations have to offer you. It may end up being some of the most productive and rewarding times of your life!
