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Middle school was challenging for Eric Santos.

But fortunately, he had the support of caring adults in his school community, including �鶹��Ƶ AmeriCorps member Chen Zhang (Providence ‘12, ‘13). Chen took time to connect with Eric, offering him encouragement, kindness and a dose of humor at just the right moment.

�鶹��Ƶ AmeriCorps members can relate to students

While Chen didn’t work with Eric directly in his classroom, they often interacted through the afterschool program that Chen’s �鶹��Ƶ team helped to run. That time spent together had an immeasurable, lifelong impact on both of them.

In fact, Chen inspired Eric to join �鶹��Ƶ and serve in his hometown a decade after the two met. Now, both are �鶹��Ƶ AmeriCorps alums.

�鶹��Ƶ service offers an opportunity to give back to your community

“I chose to serve with �鶹��Ƶ because I wanted to give something bigger than myself to my community,” says Eric, who just completed a year serving with �鶹��Ƶ Providence as a student success coach.

“I knew I could be a mentor because that’s exactly what I had, growing up in middle school. It helped me a lot, so I knew I could give that same energy back.”

�鶹��Ƶ AmeriCorps members inspire their students for years to come

Chen surprised Eric this spring just before �鶹��Ƶ Providence’s annual Red Jacket Gala, when he entered a room where Eric was being interviewed for an emotional reunion. They had a chance to express how their connection and experience with �鶹��Ƶ a decade ago had helped to shape both of their lives.

“�鶹��Ƶ has been the most impactful experience of my personal and professional life,” Chen said.

“I don’t think I could have ever imagined this moment—seeing you wear the same red jacket I wore more than ten years ago,” Chen told Eric. “It’s just an incredible feeling.”

To learn more about Eric and Chen’s story, you can watch their reunion here.

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