Hey everyone, thanks for reading. I’m Mollie, and I’m the solo North Carolinian in this year’s cohort! I attended high school in Weaverville and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in the “graduation that wasn’t” of May 2020. After graduating, I moved to California to complete a year of service in Oakland with a different service program. Entering this year, I knew what I was looking for in a second year of service.
I chose JSC because of its deep community roots, prioritization of corpsmember’s wellbeing, dedication to anti-racism, and, of course, location. Coming home to NC has been as great as I expected, and made even greater by my wonderful community at the Durham house. My housemates bring diverse experiences and backgrounds to our community and it’s been wonderful to grow our friendships. It’s a beautiful thing to watch our differences make us stronger and our conflicts open opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Building and experiencing Community is truly a transformative experience, and one that I am grateful for.
So, who am I? I am passionate about youth empowerment, cultural exchange, respecting our beautiful planet, chasing waterfalls, and learning how to love oneself wholly and unapologetically. I am a dancer, a singer, and I love laughing and cherishing the small things that bring beauty to life. I am a friend, a daughter, a sister, and I am happy to be here. I am taking advantage of this year to do intentional healing work and reclaim my peace after everything that 2020 has been. I’m rebuilding from spiritual disillusionment and re-discovering grace. If you know me, you know that I feel big, love big, and reflect big. So, I’ll leave you with one of my reflections on this year.
2021 has been a year of extremes. It’s been a year of discovery. It’s been a year of falling apart and putting ourselves back together again, slowly. It’s been a year of fast. Of changes coming at us; vessels on a conveyor belt with a broken off-switch. And a year of hours passing so slowly I wondered if I would make it through the days. This year has crushed dreams, shaken once-strong relationships, extinguished hope. This year has both divided and unified. Grievances too long buried have seen the light of day- shouts for justice too long silenced have been amplified. This year has brought out our worst, and sometimes our best. This year has been complicated and it has been simple. Can we hold so many truths? Will we crumble under their weight? Or will we rise to the occasion, abandoning misguided doctrine for the beauty of uncertainty and the gift that is giving ourselves permission to change?
It’s nice to meet you. I wish you peace & ease over the holidays.