Six months is a long time. That is, at least, what I thought when I began my term of service at SLCS this past May. Spring was in full swing, and I was just getting settled in. I would have plenty of time to enjoy my stay and make plans for my next steps.
Well, it turns out I thought wrong, because right now it is October, and I am closing in on my last few weeks here in Holderness.
With under a month left, I am kicking myself for not getting out and exploring more, because every time I do, I find another great feature of this place. I didn't get out to one of the islands until July. It was not until the end of August that I realized that I had been staying but 15 minutes from the best cliff jumping spot in NH. And, I still have not hiked all of SLA’s trails. With just a few weeks left, six months does not seem like enough time to enjoy all that Holderness has to offer.
At the same time though, it has been plenty of time; time to learn skills like mapmaking and compass navigation, time to absorb knowledge about New Hampshire wildlife and land trust operations, and time to work hard, and think about my next steps.
As my time here comes to an end, I can’t help but consider what it has been like to serve a term as an AmeriCorps member here in New Hampshire. It hasn’t been easy - LRCC work long hours, live off pennies, and commit to living in a new place which many of us have never been to. At the same time, however, we are our own little community, supporting one another as we all go through the experience together.
Since becoming an AmeriCorps member here at SLCS, I think it is fair to say we have all experienced a lot more than just working. There has been good, and there has been bad, but more than anything, there has been a whole lot of laughter about it all.
All in all, I have enjoyed my time serving as an LRCC AmeriCorps member, and feel lucky to have spent the summer on Squam with so many wonderful people. So, while my six months may have flown by, I know I have gained experience which will last a lifetime, and memories which won’t soon be forgotten.
After spending a lot of her time with SLCS working on GIS projects, Emily is looking to get a certificate in GIS after she finished her term! Learn more about Emily here.