Amanda's Americorps Experience: "Be still, God is in control."

I have been thinking about what to write about, because I am not wanting to go too long without posting. It came to me when I took another look at my blog design. Why not explain why I chose that picture to be in my header?

Okay, so first thing first. The girl in the picture with me is Jamie Litteken. Jamie and I met freshman year at SEMO. The summer prior to going off to my first year of college, I was anxiously awaiting to get my roommate assignment. When I finally got the packet in the mail, I was so surprised to find two names listed as my roommate, not one. It turned out I was one of the lucky ones placed in a three person suite. I immediately started to facebook creep on who these two girls were. I soon discovered that they went to high school together and were friends. This made me so nervous! The day I moved into the dorm, my uneasyness was put at ease. These girls were(are) amazing.

Jamie, myself, Janelle (freshman year)

me, Jamie, Janelle (freshman year)

me, Janelle, Jamie (senior year)

me, Janelle, Jamie- (senior year)

I could go on about these girls for days, I love them both so much and they are definitely the type of friends I will have in my wedding(well, I have to find a guy first!) Back to Jamie. When I very first started at SEMO, I was a psychology major and social work minor. Jamie, was a social work major. Thanks to her, within the first week I dropped my major and made my minor my major. Jamie also added a second major of Spanish (smartie). Jamie and I did not live together our sophomore or junior year, yet we were still basically in all the same classes. She kept me sane in many of the classes, served as a saving grace in others, and lit a healthy competitive spark in me for all. Jamie and I realized our junior year that we would both be graduating a semester early. That is when we began discussing our senior year and what would come next. We soon came to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to live together our senior semester in a month to month apartment. Once that was settled we began talking about what we wanted to do after graduation. We both wanted to take some time off before getting our masters. Jamie first introduced me to Americorps. She and I found out we were both accepted and in the same region. I feel nothing but blessed to be going to the same location as her. It will be so nice to have that home base when needed. I do hope that once we are split into the smaller teams, that Jamie and I will not be on the same one. This is because for so long we have done everything together, and I would like for each of us to have our own experience and also not have the opportunity to use the other as a crutch (something I would probably do more than her!)

Jamie and I freshman year

Jamie and I sophomore year

Jamie and I junior year

Jamie and I senior year

All honestly, Jamie has been a Godsend to me. First, she convinced me to go social work. Secondly, she told me about Americorps. She is so inspiring to me. This girl is so dedicated to her faith, and that is something I have always been envious of. She goes to church, retreats, classes, reads books and so on. She has her belief system and sticks to them. I am not sure what to say about that aspect of her, but it is so awesome to have a friend like that, she keeps me grounded! Jamie is also one of the only other person I have met who values her alone time as much as I do! I mean, sometimes you just need to get away from all people and just be with your thoughts, and she never thought I was being a bitch when I just wanted to be alone in my room! Last thing I am going to say to brag about Jamie. She is truly one of the only females I have met that there is no bit of anger or jealously. What I mean by this is so often a girl will get upset if they were to tell you about something (like Americorps) and then you also want to do it. Jamie (I don't think) has even been upset by me being so similar in my endeavors. Rather, she has also been so selfless and helped me accomplish what I wanted to do. Oh, and she understands the whole fellow social worker language and values thingy.

I am rambling but hopefully you get the picture.

Picture, that reminds me. I was talking about the picture! I first explained who is in that picture with me. Now let me explain where that picture is taken. This past summer, Jamie again informed me of an opportunity that I had been wanting to do. Helping in Joplin, MO after the devastating spring 2011 tornadoes. We went there with her church and helped with relief efforts. By the time we went, we still did not know if we had been accepted into Americorps NCCC, yet the experience made me yearn to be accepted into the program even more.