A Chance Worth Taking

Sara (second from left) when she visited her former service site in 2009

"Looking back more than 20 years later, I certainly couldn't have predicted what my life or career would look like when I joined [NDMV] AmeriCorps at 22. But I can say with confidence that my NDMV AmeriCorps experience — and the people I met along the way — were fundamental to the person and professional I became."

That's how Sara Kilroy reflects on two years of service that began with a leap of faith and a cross-country move, and ended with a clearer sense of who she was and what kind of work mattered to her.

Taking the Leap

Sara grew up in Pennsylvania and first heard about NDMV through a college friend whose older sister had served as an AmeriCorps member. The opportunity resonated immediately. "It felt like a chance to move across the country, teach kids in a school setting, and have a little bit of a safety net of support while figuring out what came next. I was in." In August of 2002, Sara packed up and headed to Los Angeles.

Year One: Los Angeles

Sara's first year was rooted in community from the start. She served at St. Columbkille School, spending the school year in a second grade classroom alongside lead teacher, Karla, before co-teaching a summer program for middle school students with fellow NDMV Volunteer, Kim. She still remembers reading Holes with those students and how deeply they connected with the story.

St. Columbkille was, in Sara's words, "a vibrant, thriving school," and that energy extended beyond the school walls. Sara and her housemates spent considerable time with teachers and their families, who welcomed them warmly into the community. "They opened their homes to us, fed us, and let us become part of their community. I had my first tamale! I will never forget their generosity."

Year Two: San Francisco

Sara's second year had a very different feel. She served at St. Emydius School in San Francisco, a school in its final year after 55 years serving the community. Her role shifted as well, moving primarily into the library with an additional role supporting fifth grade students. One project stands out: she worked with students to decorate grocery bags that were returned to a local store, "with the simple goal of bringing a little cheer to people in the community."

But the year carried a weight that was hard to escape. The school's impending closure was known to everyone, and that grief shaped the environment. "The closure was common knowledge, which made the final year difficult and sad for everyone." Despite that, Sara found joy in the students themselves. At both sites, she says, the kids were amazing.

Sara outside her community home in Los Angeles circa 2002.

A Home Away from Home

Living in community was one of the most memorable parts of Sara's experience. In Los Angeles, she and a housemate pooled their food stamps, planned meals, and shared chores — a simple arrangement that became something meaningful. "We got to know one another through everything from cleaning toilets to cooking and sharing meals. There were a lot of laughs."

In San Francisco, community stretched further. Two NDMV sites shared monthly service projects and team meetings, connecting Sara with Volunteers serving in Redwood City. At one point, the group spent hours producing a video for their mid-year conference called "Staying Up Late with Kate," documenting what it was like to be an NDMV Volunteer in San Francisco. "Living together and working on projects together gave me a home away from home and made being thousands of miles away feel a little less far."

What She Carried Forward

Service gave Sara something she hadn't expected: clarity. She discovered a love of working with students and educators, and a deep fulfillment in serving others. She also came away with a broader worldview. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, she had limited experience in communities of color. Her time with NDMV changed that. "It sparked a lasting curiosity and love of learning about other people's histories, cultures, and lived experiences — and about how those experiences shape the communities we share." She also credits the people around her — fellow Volunteers, Site Managers, and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur — for supporting and challenging her throughout.

After completing her service, Sara enrolled in a master's program at Clark University, drawn in part by reduced tuition offered to former AmeriCorps members. She spent years in nonprofit youth development before recently transitioning into higher education at Northeastern University, where she teaches and advises students on career readiness. The throughline, she says, has always been clear. "In many ways, the work I do today feels connected to where I started with [NDMV] AmeriCorps: helping people find their path and thinking about how we can use our work to strengthen our communities."