How Did We Get Here? - Faith

One of the things I think about often is, how did we all end up here together in this program? What would life look like if I hadn’t decided to take the leap to move to LA for a “year or service”? Some of my EUIP friends thought this would be a great next step right after graduating college, a few others like myself spent a year or two exploring life after college and then decided to take this opportunity and a handful decided the month before or even in LESS time than that took the leap and committed to this program.

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My story is that I found interest in this program around November of last year. I spoke of my options with my loved ones and decided I needed to apply. (I’ll admit I put it off for about 2 months because I dreaded writing the essays). Late January at the Daycare I was working full time at, I had just gotten all four of my one year olds to sleep when I felt my phone buzz. I saw in the subject line “Congratulations” and I began to tear up immediately. I felt that this was exactly what I was called to do! After an interesting post grad year wandering around trying to find some direction, it felt good to have some. Around February I got a call from “Communities in Schools” a non profit, dropout prevention program for elementary through high school students. I had interned there my last semester of college and I felt at the time that it was my dream job. This February I would have my 3rd interview with a principal for this program. Now I was confused about what I really wanted- BUT I didn’t get the job. I continued working at the Daycare. Come April, I got another call from Communities in Schools and had my fourth interview with a principal. I got the job. It was now late April and the program started in August. I had no idea what I wanted to do. Every week, even sometimes every other day I changed my mind about what direction my life should take. I was giving myself, my friends, and my family whiplash with my back and forth decisions. Should I continue with the salary job focused in Social Work or should I leave what I know behind, move to Los Angeles and live on a stipend?

I don’t remember the exact moment I decided, but I think I knew all along in my heart that I knew what was right. “With growth comes discomfort.” It was uncomfortable to leave my college town (that I still love with all my heart) and my very close friends. I was uncomfortable in the uncertainty that I would like the program at all, that I would get along with the people here, and I worried that once I had moved here I would have thought “I should have decided to stay.”

I’ve said many many times since being here that I am SO glad I made the right decision.

I’m only about 3 months into the program, but in that time I have grown so much. I can confidently take public transportation, I’m living in harmony with 7 other housemates, I’m learning to communicate effectively, I’m exploring my spirituality, I’m figuring out what I want for myself in the future. Life isn’t always “comfortable” here, but because of that I am growing. I’m generally exhausted by the end of the day from commuting and what ever I was doing at my service site and then there is more often times than not, another community obligation when I get home. The wonderful thing is that I’m not alone in this, I get to navigate this year and what it feels like to serve in LA with all of my friends in the program. This time last year I had no idea what my life would look like at this time, but I know that the Faith at the time would be extremely proud of herself for taking the leap… and Faith in the here and now is proud too.

~Faith

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