Article Author:
Justine Cucchiara, CAC AmeriCorps Alum 2010-2011 & 2011-2012

If I had realized what I was embarking on when I applied to be an AmeriCorps Member, I probably would not have gone through with it.  I was in the midst of finishing a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville when I caught wind of a CAC AmeriCorps position at Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge.   The position had been filled twice and both times personal circumstances had prevented the Member from finishing the term.

I worked with a partner at Seven Islands for two full terms.  The bulk of our responsibilities at the Refuge involved wielding a machete and hacking away at the weedy growth around 10,000 trees that had been planted through a habitat restoration grant.  The work was monotonous at times, but we got to be out of doors in one of the most beautiful places I could imagine and we were making a difference.  Over those two years I learned the land and came to love it.

We worked most days on the site but habitat restoration was only part of our efforts.   As an AmeriCorps Member, I attended interest group meetings, participated in the organization of fundraisers, and began to grasp the importance of collaboration and partnerships.  I learned to keep a log of my activities and to report pertinent information when appropriate.  I learned how to set goals and to work to achieve them; when to ask for help; and how to sharpen a machete like a pro.

When my two years of service at Seven Islands came to an end, I became their Science Research Coordinator.  I took the position as Assistant Lands Manager the following year.  In 2013, four years after first setting foot on the property, I became the Lands Manager at Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge.  In 2014, Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge became Seven Islands State Birding Park, making it Tennessee’s 56^th state park and the first state park to be focused on managing bird habitat.  I was given the honor and responsibility of staying on as Park Manager of Seven Islands State Birding Park.

If I had had an inkling back then of what I was getting into in becoming an AmeriCorps Member, I would have run for the hills.  The thing is, I am not the person who took that position.  I am a far more confident, competent and willing person then I ever was before.  My experience with CAC AmeriCorps set me on a journey of growth and fulfillment.   Today I welcome a challenge. I take every opportunity to learn and to be of service, and for that I am truly grateful to be an AmeriCorps Alum.

This blog post is a collection of personal reflections and expressions. All opinions represented are those of the author and do not represent the official opinion or views of the Knoxville – Knox County Community Action Committee, CAC AmeriCorps or any other party referenced.