This Cult-Like Thing You Just Joined Could Really Make a Difference

I have to admit that I never wanted to even apply for AmeriCorps; I was pretty convinced that I never wanted to work for the government in any way, shape, or form. Once one of my advisors convinced me enough to at least look into it though, I realized that I could definitely see myself in some of the positions-especially when I stumbled across the National Health Corps. Its mission "to foster healthy communities today and tomorrow through developing compassionate health leaders dedicated to providing health and wellness services to those who need it most" resonated so harmoniously with my own personal and professional goals, I applied immediately. Two interviews and two months later, I found myself at Pre-Service Orientation.

After two weeks of learning how to introduce myself with my new title, use the proper AmeriCorps lingo, and trying to wrap my head around all the rules we had to follow, I was overwhelmed. I felt like I had accidentally joined a cult. As I settled into my position at THE PLAYERS Center and actually started serving though, I gained a sense of pride each time I branded myself with the AmeriCorps logo and explained our program to what seemed like everyone I encountered.

Then, in March, I was given the opportunity to explain our program to people slightly more influential than the average Joes and Janes. I was invited to represent the National Health Corps, along with the NHC Director and the NFHC Program Director, at the ServiceNation Serve a Year campaign Launch Event at Jimmy Kimmel's Studio in Los Angeles, California. The campaign's goal is to basically redefine the expectations we as a country have for young Americans to include at least a year of service. Surrounded by current and past AmeriCorps members and the media, I listened to representatives from big-name businesses, Service Nation, network television, and Chelsea Clinton talk about the six million young Americans who are out of school and work that possess the potential to end poverty in America. As they offered a laundry list of complicated issues plaguing our nation and the AmeriCorps programs that strive to address them, I swelled with pride that I had chosen to serve a year.

As I watched Jimmy Kimmel interview Chelsea Clinton about the Serve A Year campaign and their PSA about joining the "Ninja Warrior Squad" (Google it, seriously), I recognized the true importance and value of AmeriCorps. I could no longer refer to this experience as my 'gap year' because it was just so far from an ordinary year between attending college and medical school; it has truly been a year of service that has made a small but important difference in people's lives. And if you imagine that, multiplied by a few hundred thousand or even a couple million-the effect that young Americans could have as AmeriCorps members serving in schools, health centers, and communities struggling with poverty or disaster is incredible.

I hope that this dream to make a year of service part of the American way of life is realized, because this cult-like thing I'm so glad I joined can really make a difference.
 

This blog post was written by NHC member Sammi Tyler.

Sammi Served as the 2014-2015 Community Health Educator at The PLAYERS Center.