My Journey as a USD College Corps Volunteer
- MAKE Publishing
- Jan 8
- 1 min read
By: Giselle Ortega
When I joined College Corps, I didn’t know what to expect; I just knew I was open to trying something new. That openness led me to MAKE Projects. Moving across the country was a big adjustment, but the people made it easier. My coworkers welcomed me in, helped me adapt to a new environment, and turned unfamiliar days into meaningful ones. Their support shaped my experience more than I anticipated. The work itself surprised me. I never imagined my first year would involve working on a farm, learning about composting, or understanding how worms support sustainability but I found myself enjoying every part of it. Being hands-on and learning something completely new pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way.
Another unexpected part of this journey was writing. I never saw myself as a writer, yet through MAKE Projects, I was given the chance to write blog posts and interview others. Writing is becoming a way for me to connect, reflect, and discover a new side of myself. This experience taught me to expect the unexpected. Not everything went as planned, but everything turned out the way it was meant to.
For anyone joining MAKE Projects, my advice is simple: stay open-minded. What you put into this experience is what you’ll get back. As I look ahead, I’m excited to continue growing with MAKE Projects, new participants, and see what comes next.
