What are you living for?

Tiffany from Louisville, KY, is a class 18 Team Leader at the NCCC Atlantic Region campus.  She has an amazing story of survival and service.  Read how accepting a call to lead a team has changed her life.

The writer, Albert Pine, once wrote, “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” That quote became real to me in December 2008 after I was involved in a fatal head on collision car accident where a young man of the same age lost his life. As a result of that accident, I was underwent four surgeries, two weeks of hospitalization and six months of rehabilitation. After surviving such a horrible ordeal, I could not help but ask, “What am I living for?”  Despite the service given to my church, university, and job as well as through my sorority, I found a void that I could not fill.

Luckily, I had a supervisor who at one point could relate and she recommended AmeriCorps to me, as a result of her successful service year. Initially I down played the idea that a new “job” could be what I was looking for but I applied anyway because at that point it could not hurt to try. In November 2011, I received a phone call from Jason, an Atlantic Region Unit Leader, inquiring about my interest in a Team Leader (TL) position for the 2012 service year. Unknowingly, that call changed my life.



The 2012 Buffalo Leadership team, My NCCC Family-Sharon (Unit Leader),
Tony (TL), Taft (TL), Elisabeth (TL), Tomoyo (TL), and Tiffany (TL)



After accepting the position and without any hesitation, I packed my bags to leave Louisville, Kentucky to head to the Atlantic Region campus in Perry Point, Maryland. On January 5, 2012, Team Leader Training (TLT) commenced and my service year started like a whirlwind. TLT was four weeks full of service, team building, weekend adventures, crucial training sessions and challenges. I can honestly say I work with some of the most talented, intellectual, unique and daring group of individuals the nation has to offer.



Still shot of meeting President Obama on MLK Jr. Day of Service 2012 (while still in Team Leader Training)



Though TLT was fun, it was nothing in comparison to the adventure of Corps Training Institute (CTI). CTI marks the arrival and training of Corps Members. Despite my background in leadership development and mentoring, nothing is like being responsible for the training and growth of 10 people. The joy I experience when I think of my team can possibly be compared to the joy a child brings a parent. With this position, I was hoping to pass along some wisdom and such but in exchange, my Team, my Unit Leader, and members throughout the Corps and staff have provided me with an immeasurable amount of experience and support.



My unbelievable team, Buffalo IV, on Team Reveal Day!





AmeriCorps NCCC fully recognizes the impact a leader can play in the life of others. Daily I have the opportunity to wake up and be an agent of change through serving my team, the local community and in part the nation. 



My birthday outfit-how cool?



As stated in my mission statement, I will continue to offer my ambition, energy, time and passion to cultivate an open atmosphere of achievement, personal growth and change for those in the community of need because they deserve it. As a TL, I take pride in watching and serving alongside my team as we “Get things done for America.”

Now you must ask, “What am I living for?”

~Tiffany