For the last two weeks Project Change 2010 has been doing Orientation and learning about "How to work in your work environment." ... Basically. Last Monday we met for the first time at Montgomery Community College ( our site for Project CHANGE meetings) and in addition to doing a few ice breaker exercises we learned a simpler version of the various personality categories and were given index cards and a work sheet of characteristics to figure out what category we each fit into.
These categories were by colors.Blue, Green, Gold and Orange. Blues were the people who feel that the most important thing is for everyone to get along and be happy. Greens are the ones who think and analyze problems and tasks in order to get through them. Golds are concerned with getting things done the way they are supposed to be done and following the rules that were given to them. Oranges not only have to follow the rules but they have to do everything perfectly.
The worksheet had us rank various adjectives based one what described us the best to what described us the least. At the end of it my main personality colors were equally split between Gold and Green.
Then we split off into our respective color groups and discussed how we function in a work environment and what traits in others make it difficult for us. Then we talked about it as a whole Project CHANGE unit.
On Wednesday the personality discussion continued except this time we talked with our respective supervisors( who had also taken done the same worksheet) about our differences and how we could use our personalities to accomplish things at work.
All in all it was interesting. Although, it is hard to not question yourself after so much self analysis....
More to Come!
Wednesday, September 30
Sunday, September 20
Project CHANGE Induction
On Friday I was inducted as a Project CHANGE member. Throughout the morning, after several members of the school board and the Montgomery County community congratulated Judy, the Americorps coordinator, and described bits and pieces of how the project started, graduating members went up to the podium and shared their experiences throughout their service.
I thought I would be prepared for what I would hear, I was completely wrong though. members from the different non-profits connected to Project CHANGE went up to the podium one group at a time. Each person had an entirely different experience. There were members that had moved to the country or were looking for ways to learn more about the US and the community. They talked about the people that they met and how they grew by all of the new experiences they had.
I was a little surprised that there weren't more people like me. more regular college kids looking for a start in their career.
My work is disconnected from actually helping the community. Which is how it would be in future jobs too. But everyone else's experiences were of the people that they helped at their sites and how they learned by teaching and coaching others...
What I think I'm going to like the most about this experience is having the opportunity to experience a little bit of what the other sites do too through field trips in addition to gaining the work experience I was looking for.
I thought I would be prepared for what I would hear, I was completely wrong though. members from the different non-profits connected to Project CHANGE went up to the podium one group at a time. Each person had an entirely different experience. There were members that had moved to the country or were looking for ways to learn more about the US and the community. They talked about the people that they met and how they grew by all of the new experiences they had.
I was a little surprised that there weren't more people like me. more regular college kids looking for a start in their career.
My work is disconnected from actually helping the community. Which is how it would be in future jobs too. But everyone else's experiences were of the people that they helped at their sites and how they learned by teaching and coaching others...
What I think I'm going to like the most about this experience is having the opportunity to experience a little bit of what the other sites do too through field trips in addition to gaining the work experience I was looking for.
Friday, September 11
Transportation
Even though I have a car that I could use to get from my house in Alexandria to work in Rockville, MD ( which is over an hour long commute -- On a good day.) I chose to save gas money, and my car by taking the metro. When I was asked by my future employers and people involved in Americorps, about my method of transportation I got the same response every time. The Metro? But how long will that take? Each time I responded with the same, "about 2 hours." And each time the only response was a loud gasp.
Here is the resolution I came to about my long commute:
Yes, it is a very long ride. But it is a much calmer ride, on most days, than sitting in Northern Va/ DC/ Southern MD traffic. Taking the metro saves gas money, and the cost of car maintenance.
So I took up reading. Even before I started my Americorps service I was taking the metro into DC every day for an internship. I read more than 6 books over the summer. I also noticed the possibilities of things that can be accomplished while on the metro over driving in a car. I could do things for work on the metro, If I had the capabilities, I could check email and play on the internet. And of course I could also catch up on sleep.
So, in conclusion, whenever possible public transportation is always the way to go.
Here is the resolution I came to about my long commute:
Yes, it is a very long ride. But it is a much calmer ride, on most days, than sitting in Northern Va/ DC/ Southern MD traffic. Taking the metro saves gas money, and the cost of car maintenance.
So I took up reading. Even before I started my Americorps service I was taking the metro into DC every day for an internship. I read more than 6 books over the summer. I also noticed the possibilities of things that can be accomplished while on the metro over driving in a car. I could do things for work on the metro, If I had the capabilities, I could check email and play on the internet. And of course I could also catch up on sleep.
So, in conclusion, whenever possible public transportation is always the way to go.
Tuesday, September 8
Week one
I got through my first week at my host site as an Americorps member.
Since this is my first job post college I had no idea going into it what to expect. I went from one person's office to the next with my co-Americorps member and each person explained a different part of the organization to us. It helped that our supervisor had been waiting for us, and as a result putting a lot of work aside for the two of us to start on when we got there.
Personally, I liked that I could dive right into my work and not go through this long "getting-to know-you" period where I would be given assignments that didn't matter but were good introductory jobs.
At the end of my first week, my very first proposal was finished and in the email boxes of my supervisors to be edited. I wrote a quote for a press release about a woman who will be honored at an up-coming event, started a second grant proposal and in-put donations to the organization into our database.
Even though I'm still a little unsure of how my Americorps duties will go, I can tell that this is going to be a very good experience.
Since this is my first job post college I had no idea going into it what to expect. I went from one person's office to the next with my co-Americorps member and each person explained a different part of the organization to us. It helped that our supervisor had been waiting for us, and as a result putting a lot of work aside for the two of us to start on when we got there.
Personally, I liked that I could dive right into my work and not go through this long "getting-to know-you" period where I would be given assignments that didn't matter but were good introductory jobs.
At the end of my first week, my very first proposal was finished and in the email boxes of my supervisors to be edited. I wrote a quote for a press release about a woman who will be honored at an up-coming event, started a second grant proposal and in-put donations to the organization into our database.
Even though I'm still a little unsure of how my Americorps duties will go, I can tell that this is going to be a very good experience.
Tuesday, September 1
Finding the right "fit"
I spent months looking hopelessly for any type of job, until I ended up on the Americorps.gov Web site and started searching through the different explanations of the Americorps benefits and programs. When I finally decided that I wanted to apply for Americorps, I searched for positions where I could use my degree and gain experience in my field in addition to the experience of being an Americorps member.
When I received an email one day from Project CHANGE in MD. only about an hour away from where I was living it seemed like fate. The Americorps Coordinator emailed me with various information about informational sessions and other information about working for Americorps and Project CHANGE, an organization that works with a group of non-profits in MD to help improve the community. It was about a month later when I finally went to a session and spoke with the coordinator who agreed to send my resume to the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, who was looking for a communications assistant.
The director of communications called me that day and had me come in to interview for him. The next thing I knew I got the call. "We think you would be a great fit in our organization, do you want to work with us?"
"Yes! I would love to!" was my response.
After a few more meetings and emails to complete paper work and an introductory meeting about the position and working with Americorps here I am. I have successfully completed my first day as a communications and development associate through Americorps.
I will be posting updates regularly about what its like to be an Americorps member.
so stay tuned. . .
When I received an email one day from Project CHANGE in MD. only about an hour away from where I was living it seemed like fate. The Americorps Coordinator emailed me with various information about informational sessions and other information about working for Americorps and Project CHANGE, an organization that works with a group of non-profits in MD to help improve the community. It was about a month later when I finally went to a session and spoke with the coordinator who agreed to send my resume to the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, who was looking for a communications assistant.
The director of communications called me that day and had me come in to interview for him. The next thing I knew I got the call. "We think you would be a great fit in our organization, do you want to work with us?"
"Yes! I would love to!" was my response.
After a few more meetings and emails to complete paper work and an introductory meeting about the position and working with Americorps here I am. I have successfully completed my first day as a communications and development associate through Americorps.
I will be posting updates regularly about what its like to be an Americorps member.
so stay tuned. . .
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