This team is full of a lot of very able people doing great things. We’re all learning every day. Since coming to DC though, I’ve realized something that’s proving to be a lot more important than I ever thought it would be. As a program, FEMA Corps is a partnership between AmeriCorps NCCC and FEMA, two organizations determined to impact people’s lives and change things for the better. Both have strong missions statements that they work very hard to keep at the forefront of everything they do.
AmeriCorps NCCC’s mission is to “strengthen communities and develop leaders through team-based national and community service” while FEMA’s mission is to “support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards”.
These missions, noble and bold as they may be fail to grasp the greater the mission I’ve found in this team. My team is growing and pushing and changing and busting at the seams. And maybe I shouldn’t speak for the team as a whole but here’s my mission.
Take Pride
Take pride in everything you do. If you aren’t proud of it, something must change.
Take pride in your work. Always do your best. You are responsible for everything you put out. If you aren’t proud of your work, make it better.
Take pride in your relationships. Brag about your friends, your coworkers, your girlfriend. If you aren’t proud of being in these relationships, make better ones.
Take pride in what you represent. Things you’re involved in reflect immediately back to you. If you aren’t proud to tell people your profession, religion or political party, maybe they aren’t right for you in the first place.
Take pride in yourself. There is only one of you. The choices you make have the mind-blowing and terrifying ability to actually change things, especially people. Everything is so tied together and if you forget the power your actions have, either for good or for bad, it’s easy to lose sight of the inherent worth human beings possess. Spend every day striving to make yourself proud of you because in the end you’re the one held accountable.
So Otters, this is my charge to you, now and going forward. Take Pride.