You know that feeling, the one where the world seems out of control? There are so many problems in our lives and in the world around us it just seems hopeless. You see a homeless guy and you look away because how can you help, really? You hear about cuts in education and think about how wrong that is, but how far away it is from something you can influence. You see a film that shows you how bad the lives of children can be and you want to do something but what can you do? We all see things we want to change about the world but we feel helpless. Then we start to insulate ourselves, why is our problem, really? If people really wanted to change they would help themselves, right?
Tomorrow is the beginning of AmeriCorps week, a week which celebrates those individuals who give their time and talents to change the world, one project, one child, one year at a time. These are people, off all ages, from all different kinds of backgrounds who stand up and say I will give all of myself to make a difference. I cannot speak for every program, but I know that KEYS members start their year of service scared and excited and ready to make a difference. Then they find that most days are hard. They find that they hit a wall, that if they are making a difference they can’t see it. We make them fill out Monthly Achievement Logs to keep track of their hours and who they tutor and mentor. Part of this is for our benefit, so we can keep getting the funding we need, but one of the sections they fill out is called Great Stories. They have to look back over their month and celebrate the small victories. The kid that finally masters the numbers 1-10. The kid who smiles at you after fighting you for weeks. The one who decides not to fight, to walk away. The victories are so small they can be overlooked. Our members hope they have made a difference, given their charges better futures, They take it on faith because they will never know. These kids grow up and after their year or two of service we never see them again.
Why do it at all? Why bother? The amount of faith it takes is enormous. Why don’t we just walk away, get jobs that pay actual salaries. Make it someone other person’s problem.
We can’t. We cannot just let it go. It is our problem. They are our neighbors. “There are no others, there are only facets of us.”
It is not for everyone. There is no shame in living your life, having a job, making your way. Just raise your kids right, teach them the value of eduction. Teach them to care about others and help where they can. Give them hope and faith in world that seems lacking.
But this week, hug an AmeriCorps member. Thank them for trying, against all odds, to make the world a better place.
Yours in service,
Sabrina Hykes, KEYS Alumni, VISTA Volunteer
KEYS Service Corps, AmeriCorps 