AmeriCorps Graduation!
Matt wrote this wonderful piece about our experience. I don't think it could have been written any better!
I hit up the hor d'oeuvres, which was a dangerous idea considering that my skirt barely fit as it was :P.
Matt was really happy to be at the awards ceremony :P.
The fellas! What a picture!
Knickerbocker! Love it!
The official graduation day cake!
Another crown jewel of Raven II. We weren't very good at the arts and crafts projects meant to capture the team in a positive light :P.
Unfortunately, Ashley had to leave a little early so she didn't make it to graduation but here is the remaining team. If you got back and look at our first one together the difference is crazy! And entertaining :P.
The Backseat Crew! All grown up :).
Sara and I were part of the very few people who were around the Point after graduation. So we got ourselves some pizza! These look really good and vegetably :)!
In all her beauty!
We finally reached the end of a long, wonderful and trying road. We experienced 10 months filled with every single emotion possible and survived it all together. The same 11 people that started on our team, finished on our team. Few teams were able to have such success due to people switching team, getting kicked out or quitting the Corps, for whatever reason. Considering some of the difficulties we faced within our team and in our personal life outside of the Corps this was a huge accomplishment.
Raven II held together through thick and thin; no matter what challenges we faced, we faced them together. All of us reached a breaking point. All of us wished to go home at points and maybe even considered it. Some events brought us together and some put us at odds with each other. We saw the best and worst of each other, never knowing which side would come out at any given moment.
Through all the highs and lows we developed a family love for each other and the thought of one person not being there seemed unthinkable. We got to know more about each other than we ever dreamed. We learned and saw things about our country that we never would have otherwise. More than anything, we learned about ourselves. You don't know what you're made of until you're put to a challenge.
I am beyond grateful for this experience. It is indescribable to anyone who hasn't been through it but well worth the journey. I am thankful for all the people it brought into my life, if even for a moment. The memories will not be soon forgotten or taken for granted :).