My role with Mentor Michigan seems to change by the week! I have developed training curriculum, improved the accuracy of the Mentor Michigan Directory through ongoing maintenance, engaged new programs in the Mentor Michigan Network through outreach, researched and developed resources, and helped volunteers connect with mentoring programs in their area, among other things.
Last month, I began my second term of service with Mentor Michigan. I am looking forward to the new projects and exiting things to come in the next year. Some of those new projects will include conducting research and developing toolkits around college access, engaging youth involved in formal mentoring relationships to help them find their voice and tell their stories, and support programs across the state that utilize MentorPRO; an online data tracking and analysis system designed for mentoring programs.
While looking forward to the year ahead, I am also thankful for the experience my VISTA position at the MCSC has already given me. I have learned a lot about national service, the nonprofit world, the youth mentoring field, and most importantly, myself. My path in life has been forever altered, in an unexpectedly positive way.
In the fall, I will be returning to Michigan State University as a student in the Youth Development Specialist Graduate Certificate program. Thanks to the updated education policy, VISTAs are now able to take classes while serving. Witnessing the remarkable work and impact youth mentoring programs across the state have on our youth has inspired me to explore the field of youth development as a career path. My work with Mentor Michigan, serving programs across the state, has fueled my passion in this field and given me the knowledge and skills to thrive in this graduate program.
While I am still struggling with the increasingly daunting question “what do I want to be when I grow up,” I have a new perspective, courtesy of AmeriCorps, Mentor Michigan, and the MCSC.
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