AmeriCorps
Dear Sitka: As I sit in the SJ lounge with my fellow AmeriCorps, I am reminded of all I have learned since coming to Sitka. I remember telling my parents that I was planning on moving to Alaska for a year with AmeriCorps. Since I had never really left the Midwest, my mom wondered about the cold and what she would do if I got into an emergency. My dad asked if it was like “that Sandra Bullock movie?” Which I told him I thought so, but honestly didn’t really know. Then a few months later, I packed up from my college dorm and moved to Sitka.
So far coming to Sitka has been an amazing experience. I am meeting new people who have been incredibly generous and opened their homes and their knowledge to me. I have learned more about fish and wild berries then I ever thought I would. And I have gotten to experience and learn about a part of America, which is in some ways much like my Midwest town and yet so very, very different. (Like how many can say they have mountain and ocean views?)
I have learned and gained so much from my experience at my host site. I have learned how to put together kid- approved snacks, collaborate as a team with people I serve with, and most importantly how to work with kids. I’d like to think that I have taught them as much as they have taught me, but honestly, I feel like I have learned way more from them, like how to throw a football, that the ground will be squishy even if it hasn’t rained in two days, and what true resilience looks like.
My cohort has also helped me become a better human (I could not have picked a better cohort if I tried). They are all so unique and have such distinct insights on life, yet they have taught me the same things. They have taught me that being a good friend means: being consistent, going the extra mile, and doing your best to show up. These my cohort members, my service, and Sitka have changed me for the better.
So, I’d like to thank Sitka for having me and for the wonderful experiences that I’ve had thus far.
And I am excited to see what the rest of my time in Sitka holds. With gratitude,
Ela Quinn, Sitka
AmeriCorps Volunteer
