Hello everyone! Since this is my first blog post, I thought I would start off by introducing myself. My name is Emma, and I am a One-Year Volunteer and AmeriCorps Member with the Youth Empowerment Services/ Camp Shawnee in Sandy Valley! I have been a volunteer with CAP on and off since I was 13 and Camp Shawnee is truly my favorite place on Earth.

Fun Facts About Me:

•  I graduated in May from Rollins College with a BA in Art History and Music.
•  I am a huge art nerd, and can talk to anyone about art for as long as they would let me.
• My favorite hobbies are hiking and napping (two very different things, I know.)
•  I am from Charlottesville, Virginia, so the mountains have always been my safe space.
• I am a Hufflepuff, an Enneagram 2, an INFJ, a Taurus, and a Blue!
• I listen to a lot of “mountain music,” aka folk, bluegrass, and old country music. My plan is to include one or two songs that sum up my Kentucky life in each blog post!

So now for the meat of the post. I have been living in community for the past three months or so, and I wanted to share some things that I wish I knew before I moved in. So, if you are reading this as someone who is interested in becoming a One-Year Volunteer, I have two things to say before I begin. 1) Do it!!!! There is no time like the present. 2) Mentally prepare yourself to fall in love with Kentucky, CAP, and your time here.

What I wish I knew:

• Grocery shopping for up to 9 people is really hard, BUT when you live with a group of people who love to serve others, you won’t have to do it alone.
• Waking up at the crack of dawn gets easier when you love what you do every day. Trust me, there is nothing more peaceful than walking from the Johnson House to the office when it is 65 degrees and foggy outside.
• I would never have expected to be so emotionally attached to 8 people of completely different ages, backgrounds, and personalities. I was expecting it to be similar to when I lived in a dorm my freshman year of college- I was pals with everyone, but we weren’t super close-knit. Here, I already consider these people to be my family. I am so honored to share a space and a life with them.
• Bring a fan for your room. It can get hot.
• Make your room a safe space, but also get out of your comfort zone and venture into the common areas. Some of the best memories of my time at the Johnson House so far have been around the dinner table!

Songs that remind me of CAP

• Sleep on the Floor - The Lumineers
• Everything is Beautiful (In Its Own Way) - Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson
• These Mountains - Sundy Best
• Welcome Home, Son - Radical Face