Finding a Home in my Host Site

I walked through the front doors of Abbottsford Falls on the morning of September 14th, 2015. I was sweaty and anxious and I had no idea where to go. As I cluelessly looked around, my fellow AmeriCorps member, Dianne, poked her head out of an office and waved me in. I was relieved to see a familiar face but still nervous in such an unfamiliar setting. As we were introduced to several staff members, I felt overwhelmed. As they rushed around interacting with each other and accomplishing the day’s tasks, I wondered how I would fit in and how I could even be a necessary part of such a bustling health center. 

Now fast forward almost 10 months. I walk confidently through the front doors each morning, I know exactly where I should be and I feel needed every day. Folks at the health center know my name, where I’ll be attending medical school next year and where I’m from. It has become clear that Dianne and I are seen as vital and necessary team members. Much to the displeasure of many co-workers, our last day is quickly approaching and I'm quickly starting to realize how much I'll miss walking into Abbottsford Falls every day.

For the past couple of weeks, Dianne and I have been working on a project called The Voices of Abbottsford Falls. Our vision is to use text, photography and audio to paint a picture of the vital employees that make the health center what it is. The interviews we have conducted so far with several staff members have pleasantly surprised us and given us a unique view into why people are doing what they do. Their genuine reasons for working at Abbottsford extend way beyond monthly paychecks.  I'm willing to bet that you wouldn't hear these kind of reasons at every employer or even every federally qualified health center.

One of the medical staff said, "I can’t imagine leaving and finding another place like this because they do so much. They help me grow. They’ve always supported me.”  Another explained that "Everybody here is great. I get along with everybody. It’s a family here. The patients even feel like they’re family here.". Another agreed, saying “I really enjoy working with the folks here. I think patients are happy here because it’s truly about what is best for the patient.”

When I was applying for a position with National Health Corps - Philadelphia, I blindly put Abbottsford Falls as one of my choices for a host site. I knew nothing about the health center, its mission statement or the staff that worked there. When I showed up for my first day, I still had no clue what I was getting myself into. Now that I'm on my way out, I feel incredibly thankful to have ended up where I did. If I had chosen to spend my year before medical school doing anything else, I'm not sure that I would have learned the same lessons or felt the same passion and motivation from another set of peers or colleagues. Because of this, I'll exit AmeriCorps with a certain sadness about my departure but also in incredible fondness and feeling of inspiration at what my host site has taught me.
 

This blog post was written by NHC Philadelpha member Catherine Gilligan.
Cat serves as a Health & Benefits Advocate at FPCN-Abbottsford Falls.