Offically an AmeriCorps NCCC Alumni

    I did it! I am officially an AmeriCorps NCCC Alumni.  I graduated yesterday at 9am.  Mom and Dad came to see me graduate and it really meant a lot for them to come.  We had an awards banquet the night before just for the Corps members in Cedar Rapids.  It was good and we had a good time. 
   
    Graduation was good.  All the speakers were really good an really put AmeriCorps NCCC into the right words for our parents.  Some of my friends (fellow Corps Members) did some speeches.  Brittney had her friend Matti stand up and asked people to stand up if Matti had an effect on their lives.  Then a bunch of people stood up including me and then she told the people in the audience to stand up if they saw someone standing up that had an effect on their lives.  It was truly amazing to see the impact that one person has on other peoples lives.  It really showed me that I made an impact on a lot of peoples lives while in AmeriCorps. 

      This experience is something that I would never want to forget.  It had it's highs and it's lows but I am glad I did it.  My dad told me what I said to him when I told him that I wanted to go into AmeriCorps.  He said,"Linds you told me, "Daddy I want to go on an Adventure." And thinking back on my words I was right, I had a great adventure and made another family.  Matti, Sarah, Lauren, Katie, Jake, Jacob, Shalyn, and Amy are my family and I love them.

     I will reflect more later.  Last night Mom, Dad, and I stayed in Gelena IL.  We stayed in a hotel that had a water slide in it.  It was great. I felt like a little kid again.  Today we explored Gelena and had a great lunch.  Then we drove along the Mississippi River today and we are staying in Moline IA tonight.  Tomorrow we are flying home and I will be in Boston around 10:30pm.  I can't wait to be home and not have to pack my stuff and leave again in a couple weeks.  I love you guys and can't wait to see you soon.