[ Music ]
>> When you go out there and you give, you become part
of something a lot bigger than yourself.
It's that powerful part of being American that says,
every one of us has a chance to make things better
for the country, for the community, for ourselves.
It's a tradition that goes back to the beginning of our country,
today it's being carried on by people serving
in the Peace Corps, the Military,
or volunteering here at home.
I love my country.
It may sound corny, but I do love America, and I wanted
to do something to make it a better place to live and I felt
that this was the best thing
that I could do right now in my life.
This is giving back.
This is National Service.
[ Music ]
>> When I'm able to actually see somebody complete their homework
after they've spent two or three hours with me,
that feeling is better than a paycheck,
I mean even a million dollars couldn't even top that off.
So as a tutor, usually I'm working on math problems
and skills and writing, as well as interacting with young people
as a peer counselor, allowing them to know
that they can really rise above it all.
And so by going home each night knowing
that I have touched some, somebody's life.
Reggie's a major highlight of my service this year,
I've seen a major transformation in Reggie's life.
This is a young man who has come a long way,
and [inaudible] proud of, and this year I'm going to be able
to participate in his graduation.
It was a little rough, didn't think he was going
to graduate, but we made it.
We made it.
I came in the service with a pride issue, didn't think
that I need anybody to help me do anything,
but the AmeriCorps Challenge has equipped me,
and to know that I have to work with the team,
and it's humbling every day.
You should come and see what you can do.
[ Music ]
>> We patrol the neighborhoods throughout the county area here
every day.
We're basically eyes and ears for the deputies.
If we see some problems, we get on our radios and report it.
We do the vacation home checks and help with traffic control,
and also check on elderly that are shut in and need somebody
to stop by and, and check on them periodically.
>> We've saved the city a lot of money, well,
like a half a million dollars last year.
We've cut down the car thefts again, we've cleaned
up the downtown area quite a bit.
Well, one of the reasons I volunteer is I felt I should
give something back to the community that,
that I love so much and spend most of my time in.
I didn't expect to spend as much time doing it,
but I feel it's everybody's responsibility
if they have the time to give something back.
[ Background noise ]
>> The idea of volunteering, helping other people has --
it's just always been a part of my life.
I mean, if you could help someone, you did,
which is really, you know, what service learning is all
about [inaudible] here.
I coordinate the volunteer activities
by getting high school volunteers over to work
with the special education children.
[ Background noise ]
>> There's a girl that has very limited verbal capabilities.
The other day, her teacher told me a program we had done
over here she really saw as kind of a turning point in terms
of getting her out of her shell,
and it was the most amazing feeling to know
that I'd made a difference, or, you know,
I at least in some way helped her.
[ Background noise ]
>> Helping, service learning, volunteering, whatever you want
to call it, it's just part of being American,
and I know everyone loved doing it.
[ Music ]