I served in Wisconsin as a VISTA through the Department of Public Instruction as a Family, School & Community Partnerships Advocate at two Elementary schools in Beloit, WI.    Around this time last year, I was trying to determine my next steps and had several options that interested me:  1) serving a second year Beloit, 2) Direct service program in Seattle, and 3) apply for VISTA Leader positions.   

During my VISTA year, I learned how to balance serving at two sites, how to provide long term solutions during times of organizational transition, as the district I served with, was making some big changes to their school structure, and how to gracefully ask for help while taking a medical leave of absence.  Through all of these hurdles, challenges, and lessons learned, my VISTA Leader was my constant coach, mentor, and guide. I had the privilege of having someone who consistently challenged me and supported me through a difficult but meaningful and productive year of service. I kept thinking about how central her support and leadership was to my year as a VISTA, and how I'd like to offer that same leadership to VISTAs serving in schools.