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The decision to come back for a second �鶹��Ƶ is always a big one. Devoting even one year of life and over 1700 hours to service is transformative and beautiful, but it is also grueling and draining. Part of what helps you get through such difficulties is the team you are surrounded by, and from my perspective, I was blessed with an excellent team with incredible leadership acumen in my first year. By November of 2023, three months into my first service term with �鶹��Ƶ Columbus, I felt that I was part of something special, something that I knew was giving me an advanced level of preparedness to do my job and potentially to help others learn to do so whether it be from the strict standards we were held to or the harmony with which we worked together both within and outside of school. At this time I was hoping to take on more responsibilities and lean into leadership. I subsequently asked for more training/prep in line with this desire. The more I mulled over the idea of a second year, the quicker I realized that it most likely would need to be at a different site. There were multiple factors pulling me away from Ohio, such as my long-distance relationship in Boston as well as my desire for an opportunity to live in a major city with access to great law schools, public transit, and amazing food. With all of this in mind, I began the journey of deciding to transfer sites and apply to a role that did not exist in Columbus; the role of team leader (TL) at the Greater Boston site. Arriving at that decision wasn’t easy, nor was the move, but words can’t fully describe how rewarding this would all prove to be.

Having been born and raised in Ohio and attending The Ohio State University meant that my roots were firmly planted in the region. Ohio was my childhood, my family, my memories. Everything made sense there and stepping outside of that seemed crazy, as I am not one to just up and leave my home and milieu. Before I had made the definite decision to transfer, I needed something that would further nudge me to take the leap. This nudge came in the form of a speaker who worked with the AmeriCorps Vista program for many years. They spoke to the Columbus Corps about being young and making risky decisions, of getting out of your hometown and exploring, “Even if it means living off someone else’s couch.” In that moment, it felt like she was speaking directly to me, and not long after hearing her words I approached my impact manager (IM) about the prospect of applying for a second year and transferring sites to �鶹��Ƶ Greater Boston (CYGB). I was quickly informed of the possible drawbacks of such a decision, as my IM was acutely aware that I was in a moment of tunnel vision where I mostly saw the pros in lieu of the cons. I was told that things are going to be run differently at Boston and the TL position bears little resemblance to the service leader role at �鶹��Ƶ Columbus (CYCO). In addition, she made clear that I would be stepping into an environment where I, at least temporarily, may be the odd one out. An environment where expectations, culture, dynamics, and policy may be vastly dissimilar. On top of all of this, and perhaps more obviously, I would not be able to return to my students, to my teammates who were also returning, nor to the school partnership that we started together. These are all painful losses to be sure, and something one should be prepared to feel as they make the decision to switch sites.

The next half of my service year rushed forth as a sort of blur whilst I applied for the TL position, obtained an interview, and was accepted to come to the Greater Boston site. Very quickly I had to find a place to live as I prepared to uproot my safe existence and really lean into my adulthood whilst getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Eventually, housing gets secured, fees get paid and preparations for moving are made, but none of it felt real. I denied myself the anxieties of my ever-approaching move, choosing to compartmentalize instead of fully embracing what was to come. Regardless of the reasons it all came to a crescendo the day I started my drive as I walked to the driver-side door of my car accompanied by my parents. In an instant, a fear took over my mind and body as I stared at the handle. Turning to see my parents I was immediately met by red faces and swollen eyes as I felt a catch in my throat. To my left were my parents who represented comfort, home, and the finitude of the moment. To my right was an open car door where infinitude and possibility awaited. In this moment I felt a truly sublime experience, a combination of fear and amazement. Suffice it to say this was a jarring moment, and the process of actually getting into the car and leaving was one of the hardest tasks I have ever had to undertake. Not but 5 minutes after leaving I would be doing the same with my best friend, stopping at his house to say our farewells. As the sun went down and night took hold, I realized that when the sun rose again, I would be deep into upstate New York, nearing New England and getting further and further away from my web of security in the Midwest. Despite all the melancholy that came with these moments, there is something to be said for the intense effect that came from the decision I had made. I was exercising my agency, my individuality in a way I had not yet done. This move was supported by very few people in my life and because of this the decision felt all the more my own, and so I walked forward, every mile an infinity.

After a long 12-hour drive I arrived and settled into Boston. Not much time passed before I transitioned from getting settled in, to meeting my new co-workers and adapting to the ins-and-outs of CYGB. Quickly, I learned just how different the sites are. My first day in TL training and basic training academy (BTA) prep I walked into the room wearing business casual. I was the second person to arrive, and as everyone else poured in I realized that I was very much overdressed (and people noticed to, quickly becoming an inside joke). I came into this site with the mindset that I would keep to myself at first and not assert myself much, at least not until I was more integrated and accepted. My view was that the TLs already had connections and understandings of how things worked, and I did not want to be the random person coming from out-of-site telling others how to run their site (or at least I feared that perception). I wanted to be a helpful addition, someone with unique perspective who can add to what already is, not someone who steps on toes.

I realized fairly quickly that if I wanted to be respected and accepted I would have to show people that I was truly here to do the hard work of service and of leadership. With this in mind I put my heart into our beginning of year physical service projects and used that time to start forming a group of friends within the TL, Boston civic engagement, and care force teams. When it came time to sign up for BTA sessions and help create them, I made sure to have a day where I put forth a lot of effort and owned/co-owned multiple sessions. One interesting, in-the-moment decision that I made was to offer my help preparing for the training on mandated reporting and incident reports. This was to be led by our managing director of impact (MDI), Nicole Yongue and did not require a co-lead but it seemed like something that may be useful due to my experience doing so in the year prior. She accepted, and as we planned how to facilitate the session we realized that I had quite the unique experience from my time at CYCO which allowed me to contribute to the presentation more than I could have imagined. I feel that this, coupled with some of the other trainings and work I put forth showed my dedication and openness and allowed leadership to see me more for who I am and as part of the team. As time marched on, I made sure to keep up the pace by being increasingly active, including becoming more comfortable giving my input and opinion. I continued to put significant effort into committees and project groups whilst stepping into many new roles whether it be communications crew, service reserves, leading an affinity space, or learning and development day project work group. All of this is to say I put my face and name in front of more people whilst placing my best foot forward which all allowed me to make an impact and get noticed as someone who cares and is serious about the work we do.

This adjustment period taught me to keep your mind, heart, and expectations open to what may happen. One must reach out and ask questions. Put yourself in the mindset of a constant learner and place yourself within uncomfortable situations

where you can grow and connect with others. Ask people their experience, ask their perspective. Through other people you can learn so much in a truly short amount of time. Our brains are built to adapt, and if you too decide to transfer sites you will experience much the same. It is important to carry yourself with confidence and grace whilst assuming best intent. In addition, you must always remember that you are not locked into whatever the first impression is that you give people. Everyone is constantly forming new perspective and understanding of the world and people around them, so don’t stress if you miss step while in a new environment. Lead with authenticity and people will accept you, especially at an organization that fosters grace and growth.

As I now pass the halfway point of the year and transition into Spring, I am at a point where I feel completely accepted, I feel completely valued, my ideas respected, and my perspective appreciated. Getting to this point seemed an eternity away on the first day, but arriving here seemingly took only but a month. I have learned that openness and observation are key to adapting and that you truly are able to do so in any situation. Moving across the country and spreading new roots in a completely new location was daunting, but it was a leap of faith that ended up paying off. When we put ourselves into uncomfortable situations we find all new ways to grow whilst being shaped into better, more experienced individuals which only serves to make us more effective at delivering students, schools, and our communities the resources they need.