Americorps NCCC has been a spectacular kick in the butt, the jumpstart I needed to move forward with my life. Traveling was incredible: 4 communities, 4 different tasks, 3 different states. Where else is that amount of diversity available? It's enabled me to meet 7 people I would not have known otherwise, and each has provided a new outlook on life and a different world view, a refreshing change of pace from the stuffiness of private college and simplicity of small town living. The work we accomplished over 10 months has allowed full-time workers to not have to work overtime, to gain a few more hours with their families. We made an impact, whether on students, small town folks, mentally disabled children, or warehouse workers. My life has made an about face because of this program, and I will always remember its lessons moving forward.
Americorps NCCC, while having great ideals, is an inefficient program that completes unnecessary work in an untimely manner. It's members arrive hoping to make a difference, but often leave moaning about what a waste of time it was and their desire to leave. There exists a complete disconnect between the administrators making the rules and the corps members that need to follow them, leading to bitter attitudes and utter anger towards authority. We work hard for nothing; The jobs we do are not only periphery, but dreadfully boring. Moving in groups of 10 is difficult, tedious and frustrating. Surviving the enduring tensions and squabbles of teammamtes is not something anyone should have to experience. The program aims to quash freedom of expression for uniformity and consistency. I often felt mistreated and neglected. Numerous times I looked up from my work and wondered what the fuck I was doing with my life. 3 months maybe. 10 months, I'd never do it again, and can't wait to go home and restart my life.
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