An Unexpected Email

My mother always told me that some people were born and some people were made. Those that were born were lucky and those that were made hard to work a little harder. She never did say which one I was, but as of today, I fell like on of the lucky ones.

Sometime in late November of last year, I completed an online survey. The survey came from AmeriCorps Alums offering me a once in a life time opportunity to march in President-elect Barrack Obama's Inauguration Parade on January 20th, 2009.

I completed the survey, but give the idea little thought until I received an other email message on November 22, 2008 with the subject saying: "You are marching in the inaugural parade!".

You see, I was offered this opportunity because I am an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. As an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, I took an oath on August 4th to commit a year of my life to fight poverty in my community. The health care benefits are not great, but you get a living allowance, student loan interested paid while serving and an education grant at the end of your service. There, now you too can volunteer for AmeriCorps!

I was not guarantee to win a spot in the parade! So, when I got the email on November 22, I immidiately called my fellow VISTA who was serving with me, then my supevisor and coworkers. Everyone agreed that I was very lucky or devinely bless with this great fortune. 2/3 of the parade slots was filled by DC, MD, VA alums, 3 slots was filled by CNCS staff and members of the National Leadership Council, the rest was chosen by a natioanl lottery. I was chosen out of the national lottery.