Abbey Pence is an AmeriCorps member serving as a first-year Virginia College Advising Corps (VCAC) adviser at Cumberland High School.
Abbey discovered VCAC and AmeriCorps while she was in high school, where she was supported by a VCAC adviser. Combining that experience with her current service, she has a unique understanding of the impact and opportunity that national service can have on those who receive support from AmeriCorps members—as well as the members themselves. “My biggest tip that I would give to any recent graduate looking at what’s next for them is to try something that may be out of your comfort zone,” says Abbey.
Of the many memories she has from her service term so far, one stands out. She recalls, “I took my students on a field trip to Virginia State University and one of my students turned to me with this look in her eyes that I had never seen before, and told me that this is where she was going. Giving her that on-campus experience played a huge part in her making her choice and being a part of this was so one of the most rewarding moments in my career thus far.”
“As a psychology major, I never thought that I would find myself in the school system, but this has been an essential part of me figuring out what I was called to do,” Abbey reflects. “This experience has completely changed the trajectory of my career. Initially this position was supposed to be a stepping stone, but it has been a significant role for me. I have ultimately decided to pursue a master’s degree in higher education because I can’t imagine my life not revolving around our youth. Giving back to the community I lived in during my undergrad has been incredibly fulfilling.”
