Reflections after one month of corps service

By Avery Merkley, Monarch Field Crew Member / AmeriCorps Member

After graduating with my environmental science degree this past summer, I wasn’t sure what my next journey would be. For the past four years, my main focus was getting through classes, learning from my peers and professors, and avoiding the looming question of what I would be doing next. I could never picture myself working a traditional 9-5 office job, and I didn’t know where to start the job search, nor did it sound entirely appealing to me. I ended up in a Summer environmental education internship where I could work with the public and program outdoors. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in that position, but by August, with dwindling hours available, I was on the search once again.

In the meantime, all summer, I was hearing stories from my best friend Madi about her experience serving with the corps. Every time we caught up, she would talk about her adventures throughout the week, surveying for monarch habitat. She spoke quite a bit about her crew members and how much fun they had together, despite some of the challenges they faced. I knew she was doing meaningful work, and I wanted to have that experience as well. So, when a quarter time position opened for the fall, I jumped at the opportunity.

In September, I started my term of service. I began with two weeks of orientation, learning a variety of things, such as how to safely operate a chainsaw. Since starting on projects, I have worked on removing honeysuckle and prairie restoration. While every day hasn’t been easy, I feel proud of the work my crew has been doing, and I look forward to each new week. I can humbly say I am still learning every day, but it is growth I am excited to embrace.

Next up for my crew is traveling to North Carolina as a part of disaster response. We will spend 30 days assisting in cleanup and resource distribution. There are many unknowns for what our experience will be, but I am looking forward to assisting in any way I can. I feel very lucky to have this opportunity, and will be returning to Iowa with new memories, perspectives, and skills to further aid me in the rest of my service.