One student decided he had enough with the mundane routines of college life. So he left.
Secondary education sophomore Jared Kahan left school in the spring of 2006 for three semesters. Through his sister, Kahan heard about AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.
AmeriCorps is a $900 million-a-year, federally funded organization that has over 70,000 individuals serving across three branches of service: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps Vista and AmeriCorps NCCC, according to americoprs.org.
AmeriCorps NCCC is a full time, 10-month, team-based residential program for any woman or man age 18 to 24. There are two sessions that people can join: the winter session (January) and the fall session (August), Kahan says.
Once accepted, members travel the country based on the region and campus they are assigned to, completing different aspects of community service.
Kahan started his journey in January of 2007 after taking the fall semester off the previous year. He lived in Sacramento for two months, receiving training in areas such as CPR, first aid and communication.
One of the main goals of AmeriCorps NCCC is to serve communities in every state, Kahan says. There was a great need for help in New Orleans, as the aftermath of broken levees and floods from Hurricane Katrina was still being cleaned up in the Gulf region. Much of Kahan's time was spent there.
"I spent two months in Sacramento and about seven months in the New Orleans area," Kahan says. "About 75 percent of all AmeriCorps NCCC was centralized in that area. The need was so great."
Kahan says he wasn't a student who disliked school; he just needed to try something new. "Up to the point when I left, I had done about 14 straight years of school," Kahan says. "I was kind of sick of it. I didn't really have a direction."
Once Kahan became a part of AmeriCorps NCCC, he found the direction he needed. "We worked with a non-profit group called 'Hands On New Orleans' and gave man hours wherever we could [in New Orleans]," Kahan says. "A lot of our work there was gutting houses. We'd go in to houses that were flood ravaged and rip out everything but the wood frame."
AmeriCorps NCCC appeals to others on campus, but some say it may not be in their immediate future. "It's a great idea," communications senior Crystal Baines says. "I'd do it, but not until after graduation."
Civil engineering senior Armando Fuentes agrees. "Sounds like something I would be interested in," he says. "With school and work, though, I don't have time. Maybe after I graduate."
AmeriCorps NCCC strives to get strong efforts from its members. Not only are the members helping out across the country, but they are also discovering themselves, who they are and who they want to be. "I've really become more confident in my everyday life," Kahan says. "Working for those 10 months really gave me some perspective and direction."
Other benefits are not as obvious, but still worthwhile. "I think it would open up doors and help me network for my future," Baines says. "Although helping people also sounds good."
AmeriCorps NCCC provides each member a living allowance of $75 per week and a place to live. For those who complete their 10-month stint, members receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725, which can be used to pay for school or to repay loans.
Kahan knew it wouldn't be the easiest escapade of his life, but he says he knows he made the right choice.
Hands On New Orleans, with the help of Kahan's team, performed the work for one woman in particular, essentially rebuilding her house for free. "These are some of the nicest people I've ever met. They were so thankful and glad," Kahan says. "They just wanted someone to care.
"There was a woman who paid pretty much all of her money to three different contractors in an effort to rebuild her house," Kahan says. "They ripped her off. The work they did was shit."
Kahan's work days generally started at 8 a.m. and lasted to about 5 p.m. The rest of the day was his to do as he pleased.
Working for AmeriCorps NCCC helped put things into perspective for Kahan, he says. He completed his 10-month voyage in October 2007 and then re-enrolled at ASU. "Since I've been back, I've seen how irrelevant our problems really are," Kahan says.
Now back in school and rededicated, Kahan reflects on his journey: "It was 10 months of hard work, but the friendships I made, the help we provided, and the gratitude that the people showed us made it all worth while."
Interested students can visit americorps.org for more information on how to sign up.
