Looking Back - Alumni Perspective



Liz Looker '10

Ambassador of Mentoring Alumni

Photo by Ambassador Alum, Ketsia Vedrine



I was an AmeriCorps member with the 2010-2011 Ambassadors of Mentoring and finished my year of service this past July. Here’s a look back on what brought me to AmeriCorps and where I’ve gone since:



Looking back on my experiences since college, I’m confident AmeriCorps was a great choice for me. There were some less-than-ideal aspects and I won’t sugarcoat it – lower wages and longer hours than I thought I could survive on – but my year prepared me for the future in a very unique way.

First some background: I graduated from Hampshire College in May 2010 with a vague idea that I wanted to continue pursuing something related to my senior thesis. My project was titled “I'm Respectful”: Middle School Students, Clothing Choices, and Identity Negotiation and it combined my background in sociology, cultural studies, and fine art. What I quickly realized upon graduation was that it didn’t exactly provide limited career possibilities. I always thought it would be good to have options, but when I was 21 and trying to decide on a career path, all I wanted was structure.

So I applied to AmeriCorps because, like many of my fellow Generation Y folks, I found it difficult to accept a job that wouldn’t challenge me. I think this is one reason AmeriCorps has become so popular – I finally found a position that I was prepared for without being over-qualified.

I served at East End House in Cambridge, MA where I was the Mentoring Program Coordinator. As an Ambassador I planned and facilitated everything from curriculum development and volunteer screenings to mentor trainings and match field trips. I was also active in Corps events, including coordinating Youth Mentoring Day at the State House and our AoM fundraiser.

Through these experiences I realized I’m never limited by my job description. Sometimes this is a curse because my schedule is so busy I can forget to breathe, but every project is a great opportunity to get involved and see what I’m passionate about.



One of these activities was professional development. Mass Mentoring Partnership offers numerous trainings each month on everything related to operating a high-quality mentoring program. I attended as many trainings as my schedule would allow. A two-day workshop on grant writing early in my service year introduced me to nonprofit development and (fast-forward twelve months) that’s the field I’m in now!

With all of the professional experiences I gained from being in AmeriCorps, I was able to secure a Development Associate position at the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House in Cambridge a few months ago. I plan fundraisers, write grants, manage social media, and love the collaborative environment.

I’m so fortunate that I was challenged, became more confident through my success, and jumped into the nonprofit world during my year of service. Being an AmeriCorps alum is something I’ll always feel connected to—what a great experience to have.



Liz is happy to talk! Email her at lizlooker@gmail.com or find her on Twitter @lizlooker.