The time has come to say goodbye...

Hi everyone! This is my last blog entry as a CTC VISTA. It has been a very fun and rewarding year for me. It all started when I moved to California from Philly. I still can't believe I up and left Philly and all my family and friends to move to a place where I had no permanent place to live, everything was totally unfamiliar, and where everyone (except for 1 person) was a stranger. I remember feeling so scared yet excited at the same time. I didn't know what to expect. My transition was rough not only for me but for my cat that I dragged along (sorry Meechie). I was fortunate to be temporarily housed by my co-worker and his wife for a month and then again for a few more months after my first roommate situation went bad. But then I ended up with a really cool and compatible roommate in June and both Meechie and I have felt at home ever since. :)

But where did the time go? It feels like I've only been here a few months. I guess time really does fly when you're having fun. I still feel so new to the Bay Area and have many more things to do, places to see, and cool people to meet. I have accomplished a lot in the last year though. I worked really hard creating and enhancing curriculum for the computer classes that we provide, I taught digital storytelling workshops to the Oakland youth, created a databases, refurbished computers, installed computer labs in schools and other organizations, and helped develop the website. We distributed over 2000 computers and installed about 1500 to schools in the year I served. I've gained so much knowledge and experience from doing these things and it amazes me how far I've come in one year.

But now my year as a VISTA has come to an end today. But I had a fitting ending to my year. I participating in an MLK day of service at Sobrante Park Elementary School. My organization, along with Hands on Bay Area and Kaiser Permanente Hospital, installed 50 computers in the school. I had a blast and I scored a really cool MLK day of service shirt (gotta love free stuff).

So tomorrow I will be an official OTX-West employee. I will be doing much of the same and then some. I feel like I did everything I set out to do and I'm really proud of myself for that. I really made a difference in the lives of many Oakland residents, in that my service was a step forward in eliminating the digital divide. But it doesn't stop here. There is still so much to do and so much room to grow. I'm looking forward to what 2008 will bring and hope that it's as good to me as 2007. Good luck to you all and keep up the great work!

Peace out,

Naomi

Comment from Morgan Sully on January 25, 2008 - 9:55pm

Naomi!

That's awesome news that you got hired at OTX - looked like an inevitably awesome choice for both you and OTX.

Go VISTA!