The past two weeks I’ve been interviewing with several
Habitat for Humanity affiliates for an Americorps State/National position in
the fall. I think I talked to 6 affiliates, and I think the interviews went
really well! Being able to talk about my experience and skills and passion for
community service really made me feel more confident in myself. I’m so excited
to be doing what I love, and traveling somewhere new and getting to meet new
people, experience new communities and learn new things!
Yesterday I went to Red Rocks and volunteered with the
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. We built a new trail. My crew got to install
steps on one of the steeper inclines. It was really awesome to be out there
meeting volunteers and chatting with other people who love volunteering. I
managed to get a rode from a girl who lives pretty close. The VOC compiles
lists of their volunteers who need rides and who can offer rides. It was
excellent and I hope I can get out and volunteer with them again this summer! I
also got to meet some other guys. Steve is running the Colfax Half Marathon,
and I saw him again today while I was volunteering there!
So after a full day of backbreaking work yesterday I woke up
early to volunteer at the Colfax Marathon this morning. And by early I mean, I
was out of bed by 4:30 am. I signed up to be a Zoo volunteer. (This year the
Half Marathon course runs through the Denver Zoo!) I was stationed in between
the bird house and the elephants. Even though I could hear the monkeys and
smell the elephants, the only animals I saw were rabbits and geese. So I was
positioned along the race course to cheer and direct runners in the right
direction. The Half Marathon sold out this year with 6,000 runners! It was a
really cool experience. The first few runners that came by were athletes with
disabilities; runners pushing paralyzed and paraplegic friends/family members,
and a few blind runners running with a partner/coach who helped them navigate
turns. It was really awesome! Then came the three gazelle like men who were in
it to win it! I was told afterwards that the Half Marathon and the Marathon
race records were both broken today. And they were followed by a massive crowd
of runners of all speeds. And so many people called out to say thank you for
being here! It was such a great atmosphere, everyone had such a great attitude!
My hands hurt from clapping so much!
