Ask the Expert: Dawn Follendorf and Brandon Rogers
Brandon Rogers, former VISTA supervisor and financial aid officer
Brandon Rogers currently resides in Washington state and is employed as a writer. He has published several books on assisting students in making choices about college; he also authored a report titled, The Effective Education Award, which led to groundbreaking changes in the way AmeriCorps benefits are processed by financial aid offices nationwide. With this publication, Brandon has assisted thousands of members in getting the most out of their education awards.
Dawn Follendorf, a graduate VISTA leader in Madison, WI
Dawn Follendorf is also an alumna of the Peace Corps who served two years in the Philippines. She has received a Trinity Fellowship to attend Marquette University this fall in the public service master’s degree program.
What’s Next? Closing Service and Opening New Doors
Dawn credits her year as a VISTA with helping her earn a fellowship to attend graduate school in public service. “These fellowships are awarded to individuals who have dedicated at least one year of service to some type of ‘corps’ or equivalent community work,” she said. “I believe that serving as a VISTA leader demonstrated my flexibility to work in a sector that was new to me, as well as my ambition to work on the management side of development projects — and was probably what helped me receive the fellowship!”
Preparing AmeriCorps members for life after service should be part of every program’s regular service training, and a wide range of opportunities are available that reward individuals who have served. Learn more about how to find them through online resources such as the EnCorps Collection/Beyond the Service Year and the AmeriCorps Alums website.
Members Offer Accomplished Examples
One way to inspire current members is to share success stories from those who have already completed their service year, and gone on to rewarding activities and careers. These stories can illustrate to VISTAs some of the possibilities open to them, and also help keep them motivated through some of the tough times they may face while serving.
Brandon Rogers comments on what he wishes he had known while serving in the late 1990s:
“Three months before my term of service was set to expire, my organization offered me a full-time position as the community relations director. I was just finishing grad school and my wife and I were getting ready for the birth of our first child, so the lure of a substantial paycheck, health insurance for my family, and taking that first step down my career path was overwhelming. I ultimately turned the offer down, however, in order to complete my VISTA service with the hope that the job might be waiting for me. What I wish I would have known at the time was how, ultimately, this was the absolute best decision I could ever have made.
The reason I say I wish I had known this was because the days leading up to and the weeks following that decision were some of the most agonizing ones of my service experience. Every time we faced a new expense or uncertainty I would look back with regret on my decision to stick it out. It added a tremendous psychological barrier to the work that I was trying to accomplish. It took a lot of enjoyment away from what successes I had achieved. Nowadays, of course,I find it unfathomable to think that I once considered quitting, because VISTA is such a part of both my professional and personal identity.”
Speaking From Experience
Dawn and Brandon agree that members can serve themselves by keeping all of their options open.
Dawn writes: “Prior to VISTA, I really didn’t consider attending graduate school or even see it as an option, in large part due to its expense. After some research, however, I came across some amazing fellowships that universities offer to individuals who have committed a year or more of their life to serving communities through programs like Peace Corps and VISTA. I ended up finding a program that fit my needs and now I’m headed back to school! I strongly encourage VISTAs to keep an open mind to all the opportunities that a year of service may reveal!”
Brandon writes: “Never doubt the importance and relevance of your efforts. The benefits to the community you are serving are perhaps only outweighed by the benefits this service will bring to you in turn.”
Staying Connected with Former Members
When a member hears a success story like Dawn’s or Brandon’s, it can motivate them to seek out similar fellowships or opportunities relating to their own ambitions. From a staff perspective, it’s helpful for program directors to stay in touch with past members and find out what they’re doing. Over time, they can build a long list of former member career paths or personal pursuits, which can be educational and inspirational for current members.
Opportunities Are as Individual as Members
It’s often the case that members will find their own best prospects. With this in mind, program directors can assist them by providing ongoing support, encouraging them to network, and helping them track their service experiences for easier recall later, when it’s time to build a resume or fill out a college or graduate school application. The Resource Center now features a new online tutorial for members called, What’s Next, which leads members through a set of reflection, journaling, and planning activities that help them put their post-service life into focus.
Where to Find Resources
To support members as they prepare to graduate from your program, several resources are available from the national service family. For staff, the EnCorps Collection provides resources on the content and processes you can use to guide your members toward the completion of their service. And members can use the What’s Next online tutorial, to help them as they prepare for their transition.
Ask the Expert Q&A (click on each link to view the answer)
Q: What are some of the best ways to create opportunities for passing along wisdom from one group of members to the next?
Q: What are some strategies to offer members as they deal with stress during their service year and beyond?
Q: What tips can you offer for planning a member training on Life After AmeriCorps?
