Questions Answered and Acronyms Decoded

Over the next couple posts, I am going to answer the questions I most often receive from my family and my friends. Many of these have been answered by other sources, where I have turned for my own questions. As always, if you have additional questions, send them my way- even if I can't answer them yet, I will over the next couple of months. I have about 10 weeks until I head to Vicksburg!

I'll start with the big question: What is AmeriCorps/NCCC/FEMA Corps

Wikipedia can help me explain this:

"AmeriCorps is a program of the U.S. federal government engaging adults in intensive community servicework with the goal of "helping others and meeting critical needs in the community."^[1] Members commit to full- or part-time positions offered by a network of nonprofit community organizations and public agencies, to fulfill assignments in the fields of education, public safety, health care, and environmental protection. The program is often compared to the Peace Corps as its domestic counterpart.^[2][3]

AmeriCorps is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which also oversees the Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America.^[4] It was created under President Bill Clinton by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993,^[5] incorporating VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).^[6] A third division, AmeriCorps State and National, provides grants to hundreds of local community organizations throughout the U.S.^[7]"

^{And this:}

^"The FEMA Corps who range in age from 18–24 years old, is a cadre dedicated to disaster response and recovery. It is a new partnership between AmeriCorps' Corporation for National and Community Service and FEMA.^[24]

^{The Corps, described as a "dedicated, trained, and reliable disaster workforce" works full-time for ten months on federal disaster response and recovery efforts. The first 231 members if the FEMA Corps class graduated on August 13, 2012.[25]"}

I only have a few ideas of what I will be doing, but I am honestly not too concerned. I am excited for the opportunity and I know that every day it wil be worth it- whether it is because of my team of CMs, fellow TLs or STLs, ULs, FEMA employees, or the citizens we help. I also know already that acronyms are ALWAYS used, so here's what I know:

NCCC: National Civilian Community Corps
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
UL: Unit Leader
TL: Team Leader
STL: Support Team Leader
CM: Corps Member

I'm sure others will be added as time goes on!

I also frequently get asked why I want to serve. Many people at college ask me if I have considered graduate degree programs for my masters or if I want to go to law school, or what I want to "do." I have spent nearly my entire life in school. I started preschool at age 3 (1 month before my 4th birthday) and went for two years, and I haven't taken a year off since. I'll be 23 in October. That's a hell of a lot of school. And yes, much of it I consider exactly that- Hell. I have not enjoyed much of my school years. Sitting in a classroom and answering to teachers who think they're the center of my universe and their material is the only thing that matters and that I should constantly strive for the best grades so I can get into the best schools that follow whatever institution I'm in is NOT my idea of enjoying life. I am so much more than a student, and I don't want to define myself as a student. I want something new, meaningful to myself and others, and productive for society. In order to expand my horizons, I need to leave the world of education. There is so much more to learn about life and the world, and I want to start with the country I live in. I haven't seen a whole lot of it, and I haven't experienced the things that communities who need FEMA assistance have had to face. I see so many opportunities to expand my mind and my perceptions of life, and help others. I will be helping FEMA, communities, individuals, and my Corps Members. Together, we will achieve wonderful things and bring positivity to each other. And as for grad school, who knows. Maybe, but I don't know if I want it yet. I feel like spending too much of my life in school is going to bring me down and I want experiences that I can't put a price on more than I want another $100,000 degree. If the path I want for myself after AmeriCorps requires more education, I'll probably go, but right now I don't envision it. I want to serve for more than one year with AmeriCorps, and I want to work doing something that will be meaningful to others.  The issues that I am passionate about are hunger, homelessness, and the environment. I don't know how much of those three I will be able to help through FEMA Corps, but hopefully when I am finished, I will find a career path that can end the first two and strengthen the latter. For now, I am going to spend my time focused on AmeriCorps/FEMA Corps and not what comes next. I am going to live in the "now" and be present in my life, and not focus on planning my next 5 years. The first thing I had to do when I came to college was set up my 4-year plan, and I never want to have to do that again. I have goals, but I'm going to get there at my own pace.