Rosalie Chisolm joined AmeriCorps because she wanted to help underserved communities through meaningful service. She recalls, “I knew that in this work I would be able to directly see the impact that I was making on a daily basis and know that my service is meaningful and useful. This opportunity has allowed me to explore career paths, and has also developed my personal growth, resilience, and self-discovery.”

Though she originally wanted to serve in the Peace Corps, Rosalie found an AmeriCorps position at her university’s career fair and decided to apply. She recalls, “When I found out that there was a site opening for the Virginia College Advising Corps in the same town that I went to college, I was very excited about the opportunity to give back to a community that provided me with so much.”

Rosalie treasures her memories from Virginia College Application week, when she helped provide hundreds of students with fee waivers for college applications along with fun activities throughout the week. She reflects, “It was so much fun to be able to connect with students on a fun and playful level, rather than just the normal advising aspect of my position.”

Reflecting on her time in AmeriCorps, Rosalie says, “This experience has not only taught me how to function in the workforce with regard to daily routine, but it has also connected me with a group of peers who have become lifelong friends [and] a network of mentors in many different fields, who I can always connect with in the future, no matter where I go. College advising specifically has also showed me that it is okay to try new things at any age, and to always advocate for yourself.”