Is AmeriCorps RIght for You?

These days, many students are taught that their only option, if they want to be successful in life, is to go to college immediately after graduating from high school. But for some kids, going straight to college is not the best choice, or even a realistic choice, at all. I was one of those kids.

When I was in high school, everyone told me I would never amount to anything. I wasn't a really bad kid, but I had a lot of trouble in school. I also had lots of problems at home. I felt like I didn't fit in anywhere. When I graduated high school, by the skin of my nose, I certainly didn't want to think about college! I only wanted to think about getting away from school and away from my family, and starting a new life.

It took me a lot of stumbling around in the world, making big mistakes and suffering a lot, before I found out about Americorps. I wish I had found out about this program while I was still in high school! When I did join up, at the age of 21, it changed my life.

AmeriCorps is basically the domestic version fo PeaceCorps. It involves dedicating a year or two of your life to doing full-time volunteer work, in exchange for a living allowance. If you complete one whole year, you get a $4,725 educational voucher to use at a college, university, or vocational school. Although I originally didn't want to go to college, by the time I finished my year of AmeriCorps, I had figured out what I wanted to do in life. The educational voucher helped me begin my education at a community college.

There are several different AmeriCorps programs. Whoever you are, there is a good chance that you'll be able to find a program that will fit your needs.

Americorps State And National: This is the program I was part of. As a State And National Americorps volunteer, you work full or part-time at an organization or agency that is dedicated to education, public safety, health or the environment. You may be tutoring children, helping homeless adults find jobs, providing emergency relief to disaster victims, or doing other hands on work. State And National is made up of smaller programs all over the country, so you can find a program that is dedicated to whatever you're interested in. For instance, because I love kids, I joined a program that was dedicated to helping at-risk children and placed members in organizations that helped children. It is a lot like having a regular job, except you're not really getting paid. You do get a living allowance, which you can use to pay your rent, pay for groceries, etc. You also get health coverage, help with child care expenses, and other benefits. To be eligible, you only have to be over the age of seventeen, and be a US citizen, national or permanent resident.

Americorps VISTA: Focuses on fighting illiteracy, improving health services, creating businesses, and increasing housing opportunities. This is a program for people who do not necessarily want to serve people directly, but want to do more behind-the-scenes work. A VISTA member might be recruiting people in a community to tutor elementary school children, or talking to business owners about hiring people from a local homeless shelter. Like State And National, you get a living allowance, health coverage, help with child care, etc. You also have to be over the age of seventeen, and be a US citizen, national or permanent resident.

Americorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps): This program is a little different from the other two programs. NCCC is for people between the ages of 18 and 24. They live together on a campus, and serve on environmental, educational, public safety, and disaster relief projects. A team might work on refurbishing homes in poorer neighborhoods, fighting forest fires, and creating mentoring programs.

City Year: This is an alternative AmeriCorps program for people between the ages of 17 and 24. The structured program places full-time volunteers in at-risk schools, to provide support, tutoring and mentoring to students. Each team also does one physical community improvement project per year, such as painting a mural, cleaning up a neighborhood, or doing repairs on a community center. The program also incorporates physical training, and lots of team building, in order to help young people become leaders.

Participating in AmeriCorps was an awesome experience for me, and helped me decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Whether you're still in high school, have graduated but don't feel like going to college, have earned your GED, or are an adult with some time to spare, AmeriCorps may be a great choice for you!