032: Greta Schaaf's Americorps Gap Year
Ever Better Today
English - August 26, 2016 07:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MB - ★★★★★ - 65 ratingsCareers Business Entrepreneurship Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
In 2015 Greta Schaaf graduated from a public high school in northern, VA. She had applied to, and been accepted at, University of Delaware but she didn’t feel quite ready to make that transition.
Taking a gap year wasn’t an option that was widely discussed at her high school but she followed a hunch that it might be a good path for her and attended a gap year fair. Representatives from various programs were discussing options involving travel and adventure and some very large price tags. Americorps didn’t have a table at the fair but someone there suggested that she look into it.
Greta did her research and learned that Americorps is a one year volunteer program that pays participants a stipend, a modest scholarship, and offers the opportunity to earn college credits. Greta applied for a program on the west coast, and after some frustrating bureaucratic delays that she describes in the podcast, was accepted.
Through AmeriCorps, Greta has been able to travel, see the world, and work with amazing from across our nation. The skills that she gained during that time are sure to serve her well as she now prepares to begin her college career.
Greta has a family connection to the Ever Better Podcast. Lise Metzger, Greta’s mother, was my guest on podcast episode 26, Grounded Photographer. Lise is a photographer and writer who documents the lives and work of women farmers on her blog, GroundedWomen.com. In our podcast discussion, Lise talked about her daughter’s gap year and the great experience she was having. That piqued my interest because my son is a high school senior, so I pay close attention when someone discusses the paths that students are taking after graduation. In fact, if you know of someone who is considering post-high school options, send them a link to this podcast so that they can learn from Greta's experience.
Listen to the podcast to hear Greta discuss:
Her decision to take a gap year and the leap of faith that guided her to Americorps
Diversity in Service Learning credits that she earned that will apply at U. Delaware
Accepting the program on short notice
Packing everything she would need for ten months into a green military bag, a couple of hours before catching her flight to California
How AmeriCorps is structured
Why the travel and the focus on the environment made the National Civilian Community Corp (NCCC) a good fit
Environmental stewardship projects including:
Removal of invasive species
Cleaning habitat areas
Learning about the drought in California
The San Jose “Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful” Project as well as her interaction with the “Downtown Streets Team,” which helps the homeless transition into housing and job
The way that AmeriCorps pays individuals for their project work
How her team pooled their money to shop for food
Learning about budgeting and food shopping
Why her dad says “You look so much older. You’ve gained so much experience. This year has been so good for you.”
Her mom’s initial concern that she would not want to go to school after this experience
Why some colleges are recommending a gap year
Long-term contacts and networks that Greta gained through AmeriCorps
Greta's plans to do another AmeriCorps program after college
Quotes from Greta:
“I am so glad I got into AmeriCorps!”
“I am ready for school now. I wasn’t really ready last year.”
If you have a question for Greta send it to [email protected] and I'll get it to her!
Contact Lisa:
@EverBetterU