Finding a purpose

by Tre Davis, 2nd Year Member

Snohomish County AmeriCorps Program

AmeriCorps didn’t offer me a job, a career, a team, an education award, professional development, or a stipend. AmeriCorps offered me a dream, a life-changing and enriching process.

Tre Davis

Before AmeriCorps I was employed at a labor job, making pretty good money and watching time fade away. I felt like anyone in the world could do my job; I was a dime a dozen. At the end of the day I was tired, sore, and wishing my life had a purpose. So I started thinking about all of the things I could do or be that had purpose - all these things I had no education for. I knew where to start but I had no idea how to start. Even making pretty good money it wasn’t enough to pay for school, and I did not know how to narrow down what I wanted to do. I was not aware of the potential that I possessed, the things I could make a difference at, the people I could affect. AmeriCorps showed me the purpose I was destined for - enriching life, empowering youth, seeing other people gain hope just the way I did. What a beautiful gift - the purpose of life.

Along with purpose I was lacking stability. Stability is something I was never shown. I had no idea the benefits that stability could bring me. AmeriCorps gave me a purpose, and with that purpose I learned about stability. Stability for me became having more then just a job. It became having an inner drive, and a bigger goal that can really make use of my purpose in life.

AmeriCorps introduced me into service work. I am a firm believer that you cannot teach people to do things you cannot or have not done yourself. In AmeriCorps we get out there and get to work. It is so relieving to end a day knowing that you have made a difference that can be recognized so instantly. I have been a lot of different places on our service days, done a lot of different projects. The end result for me is always humility. I am humbled in the act of bringing everything that I am at that moment to improve life in some way for someone else. I can be having a horrible day, and be of service to a youth who otherwise wouldn’t have had that experience, and my troubles seem to fade away.

I’ve gotten experience that is not only valuable but essential to where I want to go in life. When I got here, I knew I wanted to be doing something else, what I didn’t know was that I wanted to live something else. I wanted to do it, feel it, believe it, enjoy it, and reflect whatever it was that I was doing. I wanted to stand for my purpose. I have come to know so many amazing people through AmeriCorps. People who have bigger hearts then I ever knew existed, people fighting to empower youth just like I am. I went from someone who could be replaced at the drop of a hat to someone who was awarded a ten thousand dollar scholarship to study law.  I’ve networked with people who will be so beneficial to know in my life after AmeriCorps - people I can get jobs through, continue to empower youth through, and partner with to continue this purpose I’ve uncovered.

In the sense of gaining skills, there are so many to pull from. I’ve taught job prep classes to high school students and planned events with youth that warranted local media attention. I’ve been sent to multi day trainings that have taught me to train youth in a better way of communicating, and taught me to train volunteers. I have learned about how youth think, the way they act, and how to use these to empower them.

I have become a confident, powerful, and motivated person in life. I have gone from someone broken with no hope of a better life to someone living this AmeriCorps dream. AmeriCorps has given me the tools to live my life on a different plane from where I’ve ever been. So how has AmeriCorps changed my life? By experience, new skills, amazing networks, honest humility, and the process of stability. With all of these things I’ve found my purpose.

About the Author

Tre Davis is returning for her second year of service with the Snohomish County AmeriCorps Program. Previously at the Lake Stevens Family Support Center, she decided she wanted to work in the youth probation field during her second year. Tre aspires to go to law school to become a youth probation officer, lawyer, or judge. Tre has been volunteering in her community in different ways for many years. She feels she has a lot to offer youth who are struggling and hopes to empower youth at Denny Youth Center to see more in themselves then they already do. With that in mind, Tre knows that youth will have access to a life where they can be unstoppable agents of growth and positive change.

About AmeriCorps: Snohomish County

The AmeriCorps Program of Snohomish County has a ten year history of getting things done in our community. Every year 18 members of all ages and from many backgrounds volunteer at high schools and non-profit organizations to provide at-risk teens with leadership and development skills. Members provide mentoring, tutoring, job preparedness, enrichment activities, service-learning, etc. Members also recruit and work with youth and adult volunteers.

Members serve full-time for 11-months starting in late August. 80% of a member’s time is spent working with youth and volunteers; 20% is spent receiving professional development from AmeriCorps Program staff and other trainers.

AmeriCorps members make significant contributions to host sites, the youth served at host sites, and the community - contributions that extend beyond their 11-month service year.

To learn more, visit the AmeriCorps Program web site