{"id":5809,"date":"2022-06-22T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.playworks.org\/new-england\/?p=5809"},"modified":"2022-06-16T11:02:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T15:02:18","slug":"playworks-americorps-coaches-end-of-year-reflections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.playworks.org\/new-england\/2022\/06\/22\/playworks-americorps-coaches-end-of-year-reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"Playworks AmeriCorps Coaches’ end of year reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being an AmeriCorps Coach at Playworks is no small feat. Throughout the year, you are asked to complete 1,700 hours of service. <\/span>Weekend service projects<\/span><\/a><\/span> are common, you recruit and coach students for a <\/span>basketball extravaganza<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>, and you\u2019re encouraged to spend <\/span>a lot of time reflecting<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span> on why you chose to do a year of service with Playworks and the ways that you serve your community.<\/span><\/h3>\n

As the end of the school year draws near, we are preparing to launch our AmeriCorps members into their next adventure, whether it be another year of service with Playworks or moving on to a new job, school, or other exciting experience. At our end of year AmeriCorps Celebration, we asked each Corps member to write a letter to an incoming Playworks Coach who will be trained and onboarded in August, sharing lessons learned, advice, and encouragement. The following are excerpts from their letters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Coach Becca writing a letter to a future Playworks Coach.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing I battled this year was feeling like I wasn\u2019t doing enough. The truth is, showing up every day is enough. Providing these students with someone to feel comfortable with, providing them with someone to look up to and grow with is so essential to our youth. Show up every day, be yourself, and if you\u2019re having a bad day, don\u2019t worry – those kids got you… Be you. The students will follow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing I can say is to take it all in. All the good and bad days, the kids crying about not winning Bob the Bunny, and the ones who make you cute drawings. You might run into a lot of defining moments in your personal or professional career and you\u2019re going to do amazing. Take a deep breath\u2026 they\u2019re just kids who want to have fun!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got this. Things WILL get hard, and you will question why you are standing in the cold with maybe two students listening. Do it for them. You are hired for a reason. You are <\/span>here<\/span><\/i> for a reason. Change one life while you are serving. One becomes two which spreads to the whole school. You are the spark that everyone knows and loves. Believe in yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, breathe and trust your training. Everything you know and everything that you are is needed. Put the kids and fun first and it will all fall into place. Lean on the team. Other coaches can be a great help and even better friends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to be such a great experience. You are going to positively impact so many students and change their lives. Utilize your team and support at Playworks. Everyone wants to see you grow and succeed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Coaches writing their reflection letters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cServing for a whole year in a school can be hard and challenging sometimes, but it\u2019s the most fun job I\u2019ve ever had. You are going to be making a real impact on a lot of kids, they\u2019re going to look up to you and also consider you a friend. Being their Coach but also a FRIEND, someone they feel safe around, got me through everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe most rewarding part about Playworks is being able to teach with my Junior Coaches. Not only did they teach me a lot but seeing them grow into amazing, cool humans really taught me that I can make a change in the kids’ lives. It might be hard but stick through it. You got this! Don\u2019t give up!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCongrats on becoming a Playworks Coach! Hope you love ramen, you\u2019ll eat plenty of them. You will challenge yourself in ways you never have before. You will see your community in a whole new light. You\u2019ll doubt yourself, but know you are awesome and you\u2019ll get through the tough times, and you\u2019ll have the best experience of your life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear new Coach (rockstar!), First of all, thank you! You are embarking on a wild adventure of peace, love, and play. Don\u2019t be afraid to be unapologetically you and show those kids what fun looks like (no matter what fun looks like to you). Remember not to sweat the little things and try to be in the moment whenever you are with the kids. They are going to test your limits in ways that you can\u2019t even imagine. Just keep in mind that you have the power to bring play and positivity to every kid every day. P.s. Don\u2019t forget your water bottle every day, you will need it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Interested in serving as an AmeriCorps Coach for the 2022-23 school year? <\/span><\/i>Learn more about the position and apply.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/a><\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Being an AmeriCorps Coach at Playworks is no small feat. Throughout the year, you are asked to complete 1,700 hours of service. Weekend service projects are common, you recruit and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":5817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"region":[],"class_list":["post-5809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-updates"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPlayworks AmeriCorps Coaches' end of year reflections - New England<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At our end of year AmeriCorps Celebration, we asked each Corps member to write a letter to an incoming Playworks Coach who will be trained and onboarded in August, sharing lessons learned and encouragement. 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