Hello everyone. My name is Mary C. Parker, I am 23 years old and grew up in Stone Mountain, GA. I went to college at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and graduated in May 2007 with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Ethics. Last year, I served with City Year in Seattle/King County on the City Heroes team. I worked on a team of eight in West Seattle serving in a high school two days a week and running a service-learning program for high school students on the weekends. I decided to join Team Care Force because I wanted more out of my City Year experience. I wanted to do more tangible, physical service and I knew Care Force would award me the opportunity to do so. Prior to applying for Team Care Force I never participated in a Care Force service event, but I liked the idea of traveling and spreading the message of service across the country.
One of my favorite service experiences would be the very first project we did in Salem, Oregon. My project was leading T-Mobile volunteers in their signature service, the T-Mobile Huddle Up Zone. We took an ordinary modular classroom at a Boys and Girls Club and transformed it into a bright, colorful after-school space with computers, cooking supplies and what appeared to be an endless amount of school supplies. We painted bookshelves in ROY G. BIV colors and filled the walls with vibrant murals and a whiteboard. My volunteers were awesome, enthusiastic individuals who did not want to stop until everything was set in place. They worked feverishly in the final minutes before the big reveal for the kids.
During my year as a member of Team Care Force, I have learned what it is like to work in such a close-knit team environment. I consider myself fortunate to have been given the opportunity to travel and see parts of the United States through a service lens. It has been great going out to communities and instilling a sense of pride and service in the people we have worked with. Working out of City Year Headquarters has been unique and exciting, and has enhanced my understanding of City Year and what it means to be an idealist. After Care Force, I plan to stay in the Boston area and pursue jobs in the non-profit sector that focus on education. I also intend on going to graduate school within the next two years for a Masters Degree in Education.
One of my favorite service experiences would be the very first project we did in Salem, Oregon. My project was leading T-Mobile volunteers in their signature service, the T-Mobile Huddle Up Zone. We took an ordinary modular classroom at a Boys and Girls Club and transformed it into a bright, colorful after-school space with computers, cooking supplies and what appeared to be an endless amount of school supplies. We painted bookshelves in ROY G. BIV colors and filled the walls with vibrant murals and a whiteboard. My volunteers were awesome, enthusiastic individuals who did not want to stop until everything was set in place. They worked feverishly in the final minutes before the big reveal for the kids.
During my year as a member of Team Care Force, I have learned what it is like to work in such a close-knit team environment. I consider myself fortunate to have been given the opportunity to travel and see parts of the United States through a service lens. It has been great going out to communities and instilling a sense of pride and service in the people we have worked with. Working out of City Year Headquarters has been unique and exciting, and has enhanced my understanding of City Year and what it means to be an idealist. After Care Force, I plan to stay in the Boston area and pursue jobs in the non-profit sector that focus on education. I also intend on going to graduate school within the next two years for a Masters Degree in Education.
