Is it OK if I’m not ready for a real job? What is V.I.S.T.A.? How can I be adventurous without any money? How can I find my passion if it’s not my major? 

These are questions I might have asked AI in 1997 on the eve of graduating college. Clearly, I lacked direction and clarity like most college graduates (AI estimates 68% of graduates felt similarly in 2024 as in 1997). 

   As a counselor and parent, meaningfulness is a common topic throughout my days. Most of us (not going to ask AI for confirmation), can point to when we made life-altering decisions which eventually led to more meaningfulness and changed the trajectory of our lives —Volunteer in Service To America (VISTA) was that for me. VISTA gave me the opportunity to move out of my home state to a state where I ran an afterschool program in an apartment apart of a subsidized complex. My experience was challenging and incredibly thrilling.  Therefore, I enjoy informing others about AmeriCorp VISTA—it’s a great transitional gig for people during many different stages in life. 

      The VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) project focuses on fighting poverty through community service in a myriad of areas like disaster services, education, and economic opportunity. VISTA was established in 1964 by President Kennedy as a domestic counterpart to the Peace Corps. And then became apart of AmeriCorp in 1993. Here in Texas, Onestar foundation sponsors AmeriCorp VISTA (this statewide  sponsorship began in 2004 under Governor Perry, but didn’t launch until 2014). 

     VISTA can fill the gap between High school and College. Does the applicant need a year of maturity after High School? If so, volunteer for a year and then receive an educational award to apply towards college if indeed college is of an interest. VISTA matches the applicants interest with a community project or at least finds the closest match of interest. 

     Moreover, VISTA can serve not only as a gap year, but also can provide insight into job and geographical interests. VISTA will assist the volunteer with a moving and living stipend (the living allowance is intentionally set to live as peers with the low-income community members they are serving). 

     Also, VISTA can afford breathing room to college graduates before entering the work force or postgraduate degree like it offered my niece. My niece served as a VISTA volunteer in Austin in 2024-25 before applying to Medical School (how is she in my gene pool? :). 

VISTA changed the trajectory of my life by giving me the opportunity to live out of state, increase my awareness of self, community,  poverty, and meaningfulness. 

The requirements to become a VISTA: 18 yo, hs diploma or GED (some sites require a college degree), commitment for one year while living on a modest income. 

Go VISTA!