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What strengths would you bring to the program and how will they assist you as a Literacy* AmeriCorps member? How do you foresee this position helping you grow personally and professionally?

My greatest strength is determination. I�ve had a fairly rough life and am proud of the accomplishments I�ve made. I do not regret any of the hardships because through them I became strong, intelligent and empathetic. These hardships led to a way of life which is dedicated to serving the community. My previous work with City Year-AmeriCorps and taking care of a severely autistic boy was difficult. I�ll admit there were times I didn�t want to go to work in the morning... but I always went. These weren�t jobs, it wasn�t work, it was my way of life. When I�ve been unfortunate enough to have to work �real jobs� I was always miserable knowing that my strengths and skills weren�t being used, that my potential was being wasted. I want to make a difference. I want what I do to matter. I am more than content to spend my life making Robert Kennedy Ripples and throwing dying starfish back in the sea one at a time.

Though I like the person I am today, the person I could be is even better. The goals I am working on now are to learn how to better structure my time; to get more organized in general, and to continue to lose weight (I�ve kept off forty pounds in the last year). The structure and routine of a position like this would be ideal in achieving those goals. I am new to Houston and Texas; the AmeriCorps program would be a great way to get to know the city, the people and places therein. Although the education award would barely put a dent in what I already owe on student loans, I would still be able to finish my degrees with $4725. Because I have always done what I want to be doing with my life, finishing school wasn�t a high priority. But my ultimate goal is to serve with some kind of international humanitarian aide organization like the Peace Corps. As a degree is required for the Peace Corps, I have renewed motivation to finish school. My experience, skills and knowledge of French are in high demand right now but I need to live in Texas for a year to qualify for residency status. Tuition is much more costly and I wouldn�t be eligible for many grants or scholarships without such status. This AmeriCorps program is the perfect opportunity for me to put to work the experiences I�ve had in the past while at the same time learning new skills that will be valuable for where I want to go in the future. As I have done with all situations in my life, during my time with AmeriCorps I intend to take the best and leave the rest.

Always remember to quit while you're ahead.

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