by Amanda Davis, Marketing Associate VISTA
As an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer you sometimes wonder whether you are making an impact in your community, or not. But then, something happens and you know that what you are doing is making change, is providing impact.
AmeriCorps volunteers are supposed to live just a little above poverty level so that we can relate with the people that are going through those situations. This gives us a chance to be able to understand a little better.
The other day at my bus stop a man started talking to me about the “nice” weather — it was one of our rare cold days here in Austin — and how hot it was going to be this summer. He went on to talk about other issues and searching for a job. It was then that I really understood that sometimes to relate to someone all you need to be is that listening ear, to provide an able body for them to talk to or bounce ideas off of. We got on the bus, talked a little more and then parted ways. He wished me luck in my future endeavors, as I did him, and I left with a smile on my face.
As a volunteer sometimes you have to remember that you don’t always see big impact but rather it’s the little things in life that matter.
Creative Action 