Kim served with AmeriCorps in 2004-2005 at South Fortuna Elementary. The experience with AmeriCorps enabled her to get a feel for school culture and get to know the community. She was able to meet some really great people, one of which is one of her really great friends.

     She works as a District Coordinator for Rohnerville School District. After her year as an AmeriCorps member, she applied to be a Site Supervisor and then became the District Coordinator last year. She also writes an activity article for the publication School Age Notes with Megan Russin. She has a two year old daughter that she loves raising and she is happy where the year with AmeriCorps has taken her.

Advice for current AmeriCorps members:
"Enjoy your year(s) as an AmeriCorps member and dream big afterwards. If you think you can do it, you can! Just when you feel like you are worn out, keep going!"

      Daena gave two years of service to Humboldt County. A year with TOOTH AmeriCorps, and for the 2007-2008 she joined Straight Up AmeriCorps where she served at Garfield Elementary School.

     "Straight Up AmeriCorps has helped me achieve my dream of working with animals. I attended the annual All AmeriCorps conference and there, a workshop on how to prepare a resume. The workshop presenter explained that she would provide additional help if we set up a meeting with her. I took up the offer and during our meeting she not only helped me create an OUTSTANDING resume, but helped me find an amazing internship working with large captive cats. I immediately applied for the internship and got it!
      For four months I worked outdoors at the Center for Animal Research and Education (CARE) in Bridgeport, Texas. During my service I performed basic animal husbandry to 41 orange and white tigers, 3 lions, 7 leopards, and 7 cougars. In the mornings I filled up water buckets and administered medication and in the afternoons I gave tours to the public and helped fix enclosures. The warm Texas evenings were the best, however. It was then I would lie in the grass, watch the stars, and listen to the lions roar to each other.
     Working with the cats was a life changing experience. If I had not served in the AmeriCorps I would most likely not have discovered this amazing opportunity of working with wildlife. Now that I've learned how to search for unique animal internships, my adventures continue and this summer I will work at a primate sanctuary in Florida. I would like to thank Straight Up AmeriCorps for helping me find the resources I need to reach my goals."