The Year of the Tiger

A new year, a new blog post. I realize that nothing has drastically changed since my last post except the date that will appear at the bottom of this page. What has changed, however, is my ambition to kick butt this year. The Chinese Zodiac calendar says that the year of the Metal Tiger is going to be an unlucky year for many, and that may be, but I am want to face 2010 head on. My normal reaction to New Years is to turn over, sleep in and let the New Year walk all over me. Well, I just cannot afford to do that any longer. This is the year that I turn 25, the dreaded quarter of a century old, quarter life crisis "I'm almost 30!" freak out year that many have braved over the years and few have enjoyed. Well, it is now my turn to embrace my mid-twenties head on.
I am not really one to pursue heavily set long term goals. In fact, I am, rather, a short term goal whiz! I get a certain satisfaction in crossing off task on my "to do list." I thrive in the attainable "I just finished grocery shopping--go me!" kind of goals and rely on happenstance for the rest of my life. On further reflect, I am not sure if this is the best way to go. Here I am 3 months shy of 25 and have a list of things "I like doing" and not a list of things that "I love doing." So I challenge myself to really take hold of 2010 and find out what I really want out of my life. I know this sounds like the beginning of some sappy "chick-flick" staring Amy Adams, and this is most likely due to the fact that I just finished watching "Julie and Julia" due to post New Years revelry induced insomnia, but I digress...I have been contemplating this for a long time.
Since I have already dedicated this year to National Service, serving the community, the underprivileged and the Nation I feel that I deserve a little time serving myself. For the first time ever I have sat down and made a list of resolutions and I am determined to stick to them...or more realistically most of them. I have 330 some days left of my service term and I intend to make use of every single one of them to; do the best I can at this new, challenging and rewarding job, to improve myself mentally and physically, to enhance my knowledge and skills, to become "healthy" in every sense of the word, to learn to relax, to improve my relationships, to learn to say "NO", to be more assertive, to be more self aware, to be less afraid, to widen my horizons, to be more adventurous, to be more positive, to be more artistic, to ask the ever allusive questions "what do I want?" To actually answer that question.
So in conclusion, I hope when I look back on 2010 I can look back with a better sense of who I am and reflect on my journey to self discovery.

A year defending the constitution

When I decided to apply for an Americorps position I knew it was technically a "government" organization, however, being seen as a National Volunteer I did not think I would have to take "the oath." You know, the oath that every government official takes before entering into office, or secret service. It was even more surprising that "the oath," as I like to call it, includes this little dozy, "I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." Um what? My mind quickly jumps to a slue of questions, such as, what enemies? How, on just a three day pre-service training am I expected to stop international espionage?? Well...my question was soon answered as our overly cheery director yelled out, "Who is our domestic enemy?" and the hall answered back "POVERTY!" Well, needless to say I found that rather amusing since all Americorps volunteers are on a set allowance personally making them live IN poverty for one year. So, how am I suppose to defend what I am actually participating in for a year? Maybe it is like being an undercover cop...you have to infiltrate and gain trust of a community and then BAM you arrest them and they never saw you coming. However, not being a cop or having ever been "under cover" this doesn't seem like this plan was well thought out.
Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining about the pay, in fact, $10,000 a year is more than I have every made. As a recent graduate from grad school my entire life has been funded by federal grants, loans and the minimum wage, so an actual set amount of money each month, with basic health care seems like a sweet deal to me. Fortunately, I do not own anything so my expenses will be less than someone who has mortgage payments, car payments, credit card debit, children etc. Nevertheless, I still think living in Philadelphia, with the recent tax hike, rise in transportation cost and general costliness of "hipster cafes" and local groceries this is going to be tough. Budgeting my spending and keeping accurate records of bill payments will also be a new experience for me. What will not be that new to me however, is the actual Non-profit work. Since undergrad I have worked/interned with many NGO's/Non-profit organizations before and know the craziness that is the non-profit world. However, this organization is dealing with a population which I am not really familiar...immigrant seniors. I've worked with immigrant women/children who could speak English. Which is pretty much the exact opposite of who I will be working for this year. However, I hope that I gain valuable experience that will make me marketable in the field, network with the non-profits in Philadelphia, and be successful at meeting my goals for my VISTA site. This week marks the rest of my year as a "servant in solidarity."

Peace,