Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 Team Leader Spotlight: Caitlyn Reynolds

Caitlyn Reynolds, from Southfield, Michigan, is the Team Leader for Cedar 5 in NCCC’s Class 19. She arrived in Vinton on January 8, 2013, to start her 11-month service term leading a team of people between the ages of 18 and 24. Cedar 5 is made up of nine people from across the country, and they will serve together in a number of service projects across the North Central Region.

“I chose to do a year of service because school was becoming mundane,” Caitlyn says. When she first heard about NCCC and saw the job listing, she knew immediately that it was the program for her. “I am the type of person that loves to help people. I think that real world experience is the best experience that you could get.”

Prior to joining NCCC, Caitlyn was in school at Eastern Michigan University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “(NCCC) ties directly into what I want to do after school so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to branch out and do something different.” After NCCC is over, she plans to finish her degree. She was also working in a Coach store before the program. She graduated from Southfield Lathrup High School in June of 2008.

Caitlyn has several skills that she brings with her to the Team Leader position. She is a skilled communicator, hard-working, dedicated and has a genuine excitement to take on the tasks ahead. Through her college, she also has some previous leadership experience skills. “While I was at Eastern Michigan, I was the youngest person in my office to hold a student coordinator position,” Caitlyn says.

Cedar 5’s first project runs from March 11 to April 25 with Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji, Minnesota. The team is serving as tour guides in the museum for school field trips and organizing the museum storage for the center’s future move to a new location. They are also assisting in the set-up of a new exhibit at the Beltrami County History Museum, which has partnered with Headwaters Science Center.

Some fun facts about Caitlyn:

Q: What was your first job? Cashier at Joe Randazzo’s Fruit and Vegetable Market, Inc.

Q: What is your favorite movie? Silence of the Lambs

Q: What will be your first words of advice for your team members? “Enjoy this time and learn all you can about services, other people, and yourself.”

Q: What is one place in the world that you really, really wish you could visit? Africa

Q: What is your favorite candy? Hershey’s Cookies and Cream

Q: If you could come back as an animal which animal would it be and why? Eagle. It’s my college’s mascot and eagles are amazing.

Q: Are there any sayings your parents repeated over and over that you can still remember clearly? “Stay true to yourself. You can accomplish whatever you want.”

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Read, ship, sleep, and eat.

Q: Could you give us one reason to join AmeriCorps NCCC? To give my time to America!