Today’s post comes from Alison Lucci, AmeriCorps Community Resource Coordinator with Girls Hope of Pittsburgh.

I stumbled upon AmeriCorps like it was a great coffee shop or a gem of a thrift store – it was a pleasant surprise. I was a student at Kent State University spending my first spring break with 400 new pals. Our group descended on the Gulf Coast to assist with relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

I was physically and mentally exhausted halfway through the week, but I realized the neighboring tent always hosted a boisterous bunch in the evening. I had to know who these crazy people were.

Were they overjoyed at the copious amounts of grits and sweet tea we’d consumed? Did they like the military cots we were sleeping on? How did they handle the daily dose of destruction and grief? Most importantly, weren’t they tired?

I discovered they were AmeriCorps members. They had been living in their tent for three months, providing comfort and assistance to anyone who would accept their help. I made two mental notes:

1. Wow, they really are crazy

2. I must look into what this AmeriCorps thing is

A few years later, I quit my newspaper job, packed my belongings and moved back to Pittsburgh to take an AmeriCorps position working with nuns and mentors. Ok, that wasn’t exactly the job description, but it was hard to wrap my brain around these unfamiliar aspects.

Mentoring was a foreign word to me before I came to Girls Hope. I didn’t have one, and I wasn’t sure why anyone would need one. Since I was tasked with structuring and coordinating a mentoring program, I attended mentor trainings, webinars and researched the benefits of having a mentor.

I learned that it would be impossible for Girls Hope to fulfill its mission to nurture, house and educate academically capable young women and support them through college without having mentors. Every staff member and volunteer is an informal mentor just by being present.

I’m now 9 months into my AmeriCorps term at Girls Hope of Pittsburgh.  Any given week, my to-do list may range from networking with local professionals to digging holes in the landscaping or updating our . For me, the variety of tasks performed and skills gained is the beauty of AmeriCorps. There are few other places where you’ll be encouraged to take on new projects and learn from them.

I’ve also found that nuns and mentors are truly some of the best people to work with. (I really had no doubts about either!) I would happily spout off a slew of reasons why we should all have a mentor. I might even recant my statement that I never had one. After all, where would I be without the lively AmeriCorps members next door?

If you’re looking for a challenging new opportunity, wisit www.americorps.gov to find an AmeriCorps position that will take you wherever you want to go!

Alison Lucci is a writer by trade, dreamer by choice and thrifty just because. When she’s not immersed in words or volunteer projects, she take comfort in kayaks and campgrounds and enjoys cooking when challenged by the contents of a sparsely stocked kitchen.