Learning what your made of...

I've completed over half of my VISTA year, and it has certainly been a challenge. While I've enjoyed my position and the type of work I'm doing I've been facing a rather difficult dilemma. No matter how hard I work we all make the same amount. I know everyone struggles with the income a VISTA makes. So I know many of you are feeling the pinch. Working so hard and for many hours and having so little monetary reward is a slap in the face when you can't support yourself. This experience has defiantly made me a stronger person, but it has really tested what I'm made of.
I've also reached the point of questioning if the struggles are really worth the effort. And I've come to the conclusion that I'm not working a "job" but building a future career. Which will be much more rewarding in the long run. I'm just wondering if other VISTA's face this dilemma as well? I know the people that we help appreciate the jobs we do.

Elisha Durrant's Recent Field Reports

Renewed

It's amazing how one day you can be questioning the worth of the work you are doing. And then the next day you realize that yes what I'm doing is important and worth the sacrifices. INMP has applied for a number of grants in the past year we have received several rejection letters making me question the sustainability of the program. Today I'm not sure why or how but I felt renewed. Last week we were notified by one of our state senators that INMP will be receiving one of the grants that we applied for. This is great!! I have had a renewal to my drive for this position. I want to see things grow and change. The idea of possibly redefining our goals and purposes will mean success. …read more

A complete year

Everyone is writing their end of the year reports. For me it has been a rather challenging year. There are so many hurdles that you have to over come. …read more

It's November Already?

Okay, I don't know about anyone else but can you believe it's already November. Wow for those of us that started in January we are almost done. Look back over this year; this has been an absolute wonderful experience. I've learned so much and feel that I have accomplished quiet a bit. …read more

Checking in

Here's a quick update on what I've been doing here at Tincan. Continue to work on our small museums grant from Humanities Washington. We've recently submitted two grants and are looking at some smaller local grant. I've been trying to get people together for our once a month after school club for one of the local middle schools. …read more