angela. grace.

the following is a speech that i wrote in hopes to be picked to speak at our Americorps NCCC induction. i was not chosen…but i am posting this here for documentation purposes, as well as to share with you all the bigger picture of this organization and the impact it has already had on my life. 

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William Arthur Ward once said, “Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service and character.” I love this quote because goodness, humility, service and character are the attributes of what an AmeriCorps member stands for and why we are here.

We have made it to the ceremony that officially begins the most challenging and rewarding experience of our lives. It is hard to believe that a month ago we were complete strangers, but now, 4 weeks later, we have become family. – A month ago we were unsure if this program would begin on time, yet 4 weeks later we are days away from fulfilling our hearts desire of serving others.

We have come from all corners of the country with a variety of life experiences and education. However, no matter how vast our backgrounds are, we now officially share a unique bond … We are Americorps NCCC members! We all gave up our comfort zones by taking up this opportunity. We left behind our hometowns, jobs, and our circle of friends & family, for 10 months of uncertainty and sacrifice. The remaining 9 months will undoubtedly bring us pain, joy, stress, laughter and some of the greatest memories. But more important that all of what we will gain…..is what we will give. We will give hope to those who don’t think they could ever recover & strength to those who may be too weak to survive on their own. We will fight fires, help the environment, mentor children and bring communities together. We will touch the hearts of Americans young and old and truly make a difference in the lives of those who need us most.

I am so thankful to be teamed up with more than 200 people who have a spirit that is ready and willing to serve. I encourage every single Corps member to take full advantage of each moment we have here. Every person has a story….take the time to discover it. Take advantage of every day’s hard work and every weekend’s opportunity to rest. Our remaining time in NCCC is going to fly by and before we know it, we will be reflecting on this experience as one of the best years of our life. 

Be proud of this organization and constantly strive to meet and exceed the standards that are before us. We have a challenging 9 months ahead, but I could not be more certain that Class 15 will be completely successful. I am extremely thankful and honored to be associated with all of you and I look forward to hearing the results of all of our hard work.

So to the Denver Class 15, Fire, Earth, Water & Sun Units, as well as our Leaders: As we go forward, remember to love each other and respect the community. Work harder than you ever have before, but make time to laugh and play often. Create everlasting bonds with these people who are your family….But more than anything else, keep in mind our purpose and why we are here:::Goodness, humility, service and character. By staying focused on this….we WILL achieve greatness.