I'm a team leader for the Youth Volunteer Corps. What that means, is I get to spend my day creating and implementing service-learning volunteer projects for youth ages 11-18. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I have my dream job.

I get to choose issues I see both locally and globally, and engage youth in having a huge impact to solve these problems. I set up projects that help the youth build skills (and use the incredible skills they already have) and show them that they can use their hobbies and interests to make a difference in their community. Our YVC Dance Crew is one of these projects. We create, teach eachother, and learn hip-hop choreography and then perform these dances at nursing homes to help combat the rates of depression as well as bring entertainment and show community support for the residents. The Dance Crew not only works hard to put on these performances, but they also learn about the issues of elderly depression related to the statistics (like the fact that 50% of residents have no living family and up to 60% never have a single visitor).

I've also set up YVC projects that help rescued horses, environmental projects, projects where we cook at the local men's homeless shelter, and we're currently planning a project in which we will raise money to help put a well and sanitary latrine in a Ugandan school.

The youth I work with are incredible. It's amazing to watch them grow, and develop their leadership skills and awareness of community issues. And of course, I am always learning new things from them as well. More importantly, we become a family. The youth I work with are the most amazing people, and I'm so proud to know all of them.

I love my job!