When I Grow Up

Hello, again! My name is Karlee Kage, and I have about a month to go before finishing my year of service with Camp Fire USA: West Michigan Council in Grand Rapids. It’s hard to believe my first year of AmeriCorps is almost done! After college, I decided to devote a year to service in hopes of gaining some valuable experience, and admittedly, as a way to explore and attempt to answer the familiar question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Well, it’s a year later, and, honestly, I am still mystified! But while there is a lot I don’t know about my future, this year has helped me learn a few things for certain.

When I grow up….

I want to be as tireless and wholehearted as the children I have met this year. The children I have been privileged to know are so energetic and bright. Their enthusiasm for everything (new words! new games! new mulch on the playground!) is infectious. At different points this past year; I served at 12 different schools with different classes and grades. When I first walked in the door, the students may have been hesitant, but by the end of the day, they were telling me about their dog, newest video game, latest art project, six favorite colors, annoying little sister, and on and on. Their excitement for everything and the certainty (borderline impatience) with which they share their stories is something I admire.

When I grow up….

I want to be as welcoming and inclusive as the AmeriCorps team I have served with. All year long, I have been thinking that there is no way I would have met these fantastic individuals if not for AmeriCorps…and that would have been a shame! They have kept me laughing, and getting to know each other has been incredibly fun. We all come from very different places, but we have shared a truly unique experience, something we can all look back on. I will miss my “AmeriFriends” after this August!

When I grow up….

I want to allow those around me the freedom to explore and try new things. The staff and site coordinators I have worked with this past year have supported me and helped me grow, providing great ideas and help when I have needed it. Their creative ideas and commitment to their students is inspiring. I am thankful for their continued leadership and willingness to listen – it has increased my confidence in the classroom and lifted me up during the times when I had NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING.

When I grow up….

I want to be relentlessly passionate about serving others and engaged with the world around me. Through our statewide events, it has been amazing to see the knowledge and drive my fellow Michigan’s AmeriCorps members bring to their service. The stories from this blog and those shared at statewide and regional events are incredible. These AmeriCorps members, along with the fabulous Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council and dedicated Michigan Community Service Commission staff, help me believe without a doubt the smallest group of passionate, committed people working together really can do great things.

Service is full of surprises – I have been able to give back to my community in some small way this year, and yet somehow I am walking away with more than I feel I deserve – inspiring moments, too many laugh out loud stories to count, countless challenges overcome, and so much more left to process. I still don’t know exactly what I want to be when I eventually sort of grow up, but I am endlessly grateful for the possibilities.

Give a year and see what happens… Check out www.americorps.gov or www.campfireusawmc.org/americorps!