| Guam AmeriCorps Stories Continued |
| Name: Roselle L.E. Aguon Village: Mai Mai, Chalan Pago AmeriCorps Projects: One-to-one mentoring with youth serving as a big sister to provide a postive model. Why I decided to serve: To get to know different people and assist them as they face different challenges in life. What I do: I set aside time to meet with youth individually to allow them to be heard, whether it be concerns or good news. My meeting with the youth is not |
| limited to being a friend to talk to but I also take the time to treat them to movies and other recreational activities. What made the biggest impact on me: The time I put aside for them was worth it for I have seen positive changes in their lives. What I've learned: I've learned to be patient and not to expect too much when I don't see any improvements right away. What I've gained: I've gained trust and friendship and I've also gained new experiences. |
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| Name: Katrina Cruz Village: Yona AmeriCorps Projects: Department of Youth Affairs (DYA) cottage homes Why I decided to serve: I like to help the youth of Guam. What I did: I mentored and tutored my clients. What made the biggest impact on me: Knowing that I can't save them all, but at least I know I tried. |
| What I've learned: I've learned that many youth today have problems, and no matter where they go they would come back, if needed. What I've gained: I've gained the respect of my clients. |
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| Name: Robert C. "Robby" Castaneda Village: Santa Rita AmeriCorps Projects: Summer Reading Program, Saturday Story Hour, Skinner Plaza Halloween Haunted House Why I decided to serve: This is my second term. Last year, I joined to gain work experience and help my community in anyway possible. This year, I joined because I met a lot of friends and had fun. |
| What I did: I helped at DPR in my first year, including assisting at elementary schools, tutoring, mentoring kids, and working with old folks at the senior citizen center. This year, I help at the Guam Public Library by reading to the kids and doing library duties. What made the biggest impact on me: Getting the job done and seeing the smiles, along with appreciation; just the fact that I helped someone and I did a good deed. What I've learned: I've learned how to be an outgoing person. I've also learned that anything I do to help someone can make not just an impact on them, but also on myself. I know I have made a difference. What I've gained: I've gained knowledge of work experience, how to help out in my community, and get things done. |
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| Name: Jeraldine Duenas Village: Yigo AmeriCorps Projects: Department of Youth Affairs, Dededo Resource Center, Mentor. Why I decided to serve: During my middle and high school years, I was always active in the community. And now that I'm attending college, I'm highly interested in this program. I enjoy providing my help to anyone for the bettement of all. What I do: I help kids with their homework, tutor them, provide them with a |
| friend to pour out their problems, give them the courage to be strong, and to realize that things are capable of getting better. It's possible. What made the biggest impact on me: I just started working with DYA (Department of Youth Affairs) Northern. Just by being around these kids with various unpleasant situations, and helping them to reconstruct their lives, it makes me feel good about myself. What I've learned: I've learned to deal with various situations that need alot of patience and concentration, along with a bit of what case workers deal with. What I've gained: I learned to gain one-on-one self patience for these kids, the learning experience of helping to encourage the kids to make better choices for themselves, and that education is the key to success and one's career. |
| Name: Edilyn M. Terlaje Village: Yona AmeriCorps Projects: Summer Reading Program, Saturday Story Hour, and Teen Read Week Why I decided to serve: I decided to serve as an AmeriCorps Member for the purpose of serving others while working to be able to pay for college on my own. I decided to serve to also prove that I can be independent and make it! What I did: During the Summer Reading Program, I, as well as my fellow |
| as well as my fellow AmeriCorps members, read and played games with many children, as well as promoted reading to children of all ages. During the Saturday Story Hour we read to children and had them show their creativity in crafts. For Teen Read Week, we promoted reading mainly for teenagers, but also for children of all ages for a week, and we ended that week with a celebration. What made the biggest impact on me: Every Saturday a child makes an impact on me! What I've learned: I've learned to be appreciative of what I have and that it doesn't take much to give a little. When you give just a little, it will later come back to you in a greater amount. What I've gained: I've gained happiness for what I do. I have also gained the joy and appreciation for children. |
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