I remember the day I decided to apply for a year of service with MVC; it was on a whim, after I got an email from our long-term service coordinator. There was a rapidly approaching deadline, and she thought that I might be interested. I was familiar with MVC as a program my college frequently promoted to us for post-grad plans. One of my closest mentors was also an alum of the program.​

I was one of the stereotypical college seniors who applied for a gazillion different programs without really being sure of what I wanted to do. My friends and I spent our afternoons doing homework and our evenings updating and supporting one another on the various programs we were applying to and the places we hoped to be in the upcoming chapter of our lives. For some reason, something inside of me stopped me from sharing this application process with them. The words wouldn’t even form in my mouth. I didn’t tell anyone, even my family, about my interest in MVC until I was accepted into it. I even interviewed for a service site without telling anyone. During a snowy weekend in April, I finally confided in one of my friends, sharing that I had not only applied to the program but was also accepted. At this point, I was feeling a little unsure about spending a year as a volunteer; I didn’t know if I had what it would take. My friends and family, on the other hand, were thrilled. To them, a year of service wasn’t just something that I could do; it was something that I would grow through, something I would come alive in.

Suddenly, MVC wasn’t just a program I applied to; it was the commitment I knew I needed.

I continued the interview and placement process for MVC while discerning other options. I was amazed at the support I received from the staff, instantly feeling like I was a member of the Circle of Mercy – long before I had the vocabulary to define that feeling. It was the personal interactions and support that helped affirm that this was not just the organization that deserved my gifts, but the one I needed to help me grow into myself, grow spiritually, and launch myself (very far) from my comfort zone. 

Moving to California wasn’t just my first time moving away from the East Coast, it was also the first time I had ever left the Eastern Time zone, my first time having a layover, the first time I had ever moved to a city where I didn’t know a single person, and the first time I would ever be working in a school. 

When I landed in California, everything felt ‘new’ and ‘different’ – it took some time for me to adjust to the dry heat for sure – but it took a long time for it to set in that I was so far away from everyone I knew. Sometimes, it still feels surreal. I reckon every day how lucky I am to have this opportunity. I have only just begun to realize how impactful this journey has been on me, and each day I feel myself being a little more grateful. I have seen myself grow in ways I couldn’t have anticipated since moving here. Finding my place in MVC has been so impactful, but I think it’s been my move across the country that has truly driven me to grow, to come alive.

Each day that I go into Cristo Rey, I might be tackling one-on-one tutoring, substitute teaching an algebra class, or setting up for our monthly Mass. No matter what I’m doing, though, I know that it’s helping someone. That person might be the students I’m interacting with or taking a task off a teacher’s workload. More than that, I’m helping myself grow. As an educator, as a person, and most importantly, closer to God. Serving as a volunteer in Academic Support at Cristo Rey means that even our routines get shaken up each day. This beautiful chaos is what makes me excited to go into work each day. It’s hard to know what to expect, but I know the students will always keep me entertained. Between their ever-evolving jokes and antics, it’s never a dull moment at school. Getting involved was a natural part of my placement. It’s easy to get pulled in all the different directions with kids excitedly asking me to run with them after school or go to their soccer games. 

And in all of it, the quiet moments, the unexpected challenges, the laughter, the learning, I feel myself coming alive.

Kylee Legg: Sacramento, California