AmeriCorps experience unites members with diverse backgrounds

If someone had told me five years ago I would be in my second year of service in AmeriCorps with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, I would have laughed at them and said they should not become a fortune teller. Oh how wrong I would have been! The reason I would have been so surprised is that I thought that service in AmeriCorps was only for youth. Since I am young at heart but not on paper I didn't think the opportunity was available.

Not only was it available, it has been one of the best opportunities of my lifetime. I have been serving for 1 1/2 years now as a Twin Cities Habitat Construction Volunteer Facilitator. Using my college degree from the first time through as a teacher I have had opportunity to train volunteers and teach them the process of home building and restoration. What I have received in return have been lessons about life and meeting new people from so many different backgrounds.

The best part of this is that it doesn't matter how different our backgrounds are. When we are all serving together to help people's dreams of homeownership come true, we are on the same page. The opportunity to meet and get to know the prospective homeowners has enriched this experience even more. I know that when my service time is complete I will carry the lessons learned with me into all the new opportunities I encounter next.

I am grateful for this life experience and would like to say that when life is uncertain and the future is scary, take the step that scares you the most because the challenge can lead to the best experience life has to offer!

Jane Bolton, Current Twin Cities Habitat AmeriCorps Member