The End.

So after 10 long months, days of shitty work, 9 people that may have drove me crazy on a regular basis (who weirdly I love dearly), I am officially done. My AmeriCorps year is complete, finito, over, dunzo. Have I fully processed this? According to everyone I probably haven't and won't for a few weeks but I believe I've been processing this for months.

What to say about AmeriCorps? It was sometimes hell; living, breathing hell. You have someone constantly controlling your daily life, planning your schedule, telling you when to sleep, eat, speak, work. Other times it was the most amazing experience in the world, I spent time with people I began to call my family. We fought, laughed, (some) cried. They were there to bring you up when you were down and set you on the right path. I met incredible individuals within this program, I truly believe many will do wonderful things with their lives and I do hope that I can stay a part of many of their futures in whatever way possible.

Do I understand the impact I have had? Well if you look at the "statistics" apparently it has been a lot. I know the reality, I know what I have accomplished, what this program has accomplished and I know what has been left behind.

Would I do it again? No, I would not. It was no where near the stress I dealt with for 10 months. It is also not something that I believe was truly challenging for a 23 year old college graduate.

There are things that without a doubt I would like to have changed about this year, but I also gained a lot of experiences that I never would have. I saw the East Coast, I traveled, I helped tornado victims, I built houses. At least for part of these 10 months I made an impact, but I do believe above anything else that there needs to be some changes to make this program effective and self sustaining.

All I know is I left different and with a lovely group of individuals who I call family. Good luck to you Class 17, the potential we have to change society is great see to it that you actually do this.

The Raven Unit

Raven 5 at the awards banquet

Me, Hunter, and Kiera

Me and Ella

Josh, me, and DJ

POD 6

Dennys Night

AmeriProm

More AmeriProm

Full Circle

We have officially come full circle, the AmeriCorps year will be complete in exactly 1 week. How quick time flies. The last few weeks in Habitat were great, it was such a fantastic project with really great people. We managed in our time there to help complete the second story of phase one in Millstone and the first story of phase two. It was a lot of progress to make and it was pretty impressive to see.

We have now almost completed our last week of hours. How great is that, I'll be home next week Thursday and I'm so very happy about it. This week has just been a normal transition week except a few extra things since we have to turn in a bunch of stuff. Tonight is also Ameri-prom or Ameri-corpse, yup zombie themed. Basically this weekend will be full of packing and going out with everyone here for a last hurrah. See all ya'll next week :]

Trusses in phase 2

Phase 1

phase 2

Me and Ella decking

Team at the CCC event

The team and Wilmington Habitat Staff

Halloween