Jess is an AAI AmeriCorps member who chose to return for a second year of service! She first joined us in summer 2024, but she felt her time with AAI was unfinished and we’re absolutely delighted to have her again! We asked Jess about returning to service with Alpine Achievers Initiative. See what she had to say below!
I returned for a second year because I still felt like I had a lot more to learn from my site and my supervisors. I moved around a lot during my first term and I really wanted a service term with more stability where I could really develop my skills and find a more consistent routine of service.
My first term I started off serving at the Saguache Boys and Girls club and then moved into working at the Alamosa Boys and Girls Club at the desk and running outdoor education programming. This year I am working specifically with the fifth day programming and outdoor education programming department of the club.
I’m really looking forward to running, skiing/snowboarding trips with the kids. The club got an awesome grant this year to take the teens skiing a lot and I’m really excited to have the opportunity to get kids involved with something that’s a little inaccessible to a lot of people.
I definitely think this year I’m coming in with a lot less anxiety, but what I’m doing this year is very different from what I was doing last year so I’m still in a position of learning and growing.
The most important thing is being present. Whether you feel like you’re doing a good job or not, just showing up and being a consistent and positive person for the kids you work with is most of the battle.