By Elizabeth Madison | May 12, 2025 The way my AmeriCorps service term has panned out is very different from what I thought it was going to be. When applying for service I knew it was going to be hard, I knew there would be difficult moments, but I don’t think much could have prepared me for the hardship that would come my way. I chose my site host, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), because of the admiration I have for the immigrant and refugee community. Serving at a resettlement agency has been the joy of my professional career so far, and I hope to continue making a career of it. I wasn’t prepared for the towering pressure and changes that 2025 would bring being associated with a government-funded resettlement agency. There have been many deep lows, from my colleagues being let go and genuine fears from our clients. January 2025 seems very different from September 2024 when I started my service.
Moving into May 2025, and January seems so far away. In the little over hundred days since, every day seemed to bring another news headline or story that would directly impact the clients I am serving, or my actual ability to serve. I often feel disheartened and disparaged, confused as to why others feel that AmeriCorps members are not worth keeping around. I consider myself fortunate that I can continue serving, but I feel immense grief for my other AmeriCorps members who are not able to and their communities that will be affected.
But service continues on. There are projects that need to be developed and completed, clients that need assistance and support, and a community that needs me. I reflect on the AmeriCorps pledge during these difficult times. I took the AmeriCorps pledge during my first week of service during orientation with my fellow service members, and I believe it to be a touchstone when things get overwhelming.
The AmeriCorps Pledge
As an AmeriCorps member, you are expected to adhere to the AmeriCorps pledge. The pledge represents the commitment you have taken to serve not just this year, but in the years ahead.
I will get things done for America – to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.
— The Corps Network
With all this being said, I also must serve myself and make sure that I am being looked after – you cannot pour from an empty cup. My supervisors, past and present, and community at the IRC have been fundamental in creating a supportive environment for me to serve in. They have encouraged me, provided me with great resources, and listened to me during some of my hardest moments. Creating a strong boundary between service and life has been one of my biggest challenges, to make sure I am enjoying my free time and not worrying about what is going on back at the office. It has been difficult with all things considered, but I am grateful for the friends and community I have made outside of service who have enriched my life fully. Getting to explore Missoula in the springtime has been a really fun experience, going to see butterflies at the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium, and finally going to my first rodeo!
As AmeriCorps members, it’s almost second nature to put others before us, to provide others with the best service before checking in with ourselves. During the last couple of weeks, I have faced deep insecurities that have forced me to look inward and reassess my ability to take care of myself before others. I want to continue getting things done for my community, but I have to make sure that I can do it for myself too. If AmeriCorps continues to provide service and onboards new service members, my hope is that more is provided for these future members to ensure their wellbeing is well looked after: a higher stipend, safe and affordable housing, and a team that supports its members and prepares for adversity before it occurs.
