By Tracie Sullivan, Partnership Development Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA 2014-2015

As August is coming around the corner, it is hard for me to believe that my year of service with Boston Cares is coming to an end. It has been a year of incredible growth, excitement, transformation, and challenges.  From day one, I was immersed in the fast paced culture of the non-profit industry, and enjoyed the versatility and flexibility of the role that I was given.

Throughout the year, I had the opportunity to work on TeamWorks programming and partnership development. With these roles at hand, I was able to meet and work with wonderful volunteers, develop meaningful service learning curricula, and to meet and develop relationships with non-profit organizations that are doing incredible projects in our community, for our community. I had the opportunity to sit in on ESOL conversation classes in Dorchester, to plant kale at a local elementary school vegetable garden, and to wrap hundreds of bouquets of flowers to give to seniors for Hanukkah and Christmas. I was able to get to know Boston, and most importantly get to know the amazing people that live here.

One word that best exemplifies Boston Cares is family. It is a work place where I am excited to get up in the morning and go to, a place where I am supported, challenged, and encouraged.  Boston Cares is a place where my values align with the mission, and where the main goal is to make Boston the strongest community it can be. Boston Cares has taught me to have the confidence in myself to become the leader that I was initially too afraid to be, to believe in myself, and to find innovative and thoughtful ways to solve challenges.

Additionally, Boston Cares gave me the opportunity to step up, and the push that I needed to develop my skill sets, and career goals. The staff truly valued my ideas, and comfortably allowed me to bring suggestions and feedback to the table, for which I am incredibly grateful.

As I move on to Graduate School in the Fall, Boston Cares, the community of Boston, and the wonderful volunteers, and non-profit partners I have met this year will hold a special place in my heart. Thank you Boston Cares and AmeriCorps VISTA for a truly incredible year of service.

Interested in becoming an AmeriCorps VISTA at Boston Cares or one of our partner organizations? Visit www.bostoncares.org/vistaopenings to learn more.