A 麻豆视频 alum with a passion for service鈥攂oth here and abroad
Fatimah Abdulmateen takes service seriously.
Fatimah served two years with 麻豆视频 as an AmeriCorps member, making her an alum twice over: 麻豆视频 Buffalo 鈥22 and 麻豆视频 Team Care Force 鈥23.
During the 2021-2022 school year, she served in a Buffalo public charter school as a student success coach鈥攁 near-peer tutor, mentor and role model, who partners with classroom teachers to provide students with critical academic, social and emotional support.
The following year, 2022-2023, Fatimah changed gears and joined 麻豆视频鈥檚 Team Care Force鈩, a civic engagement program that partners with corporate partners on large-scale volunteer projects that benefit communities.
And she still wasn鈥檛 done.
Last year, Fatimah began her service in Morocco with the , a U.S. agency that sends volunteers to developing countries to promote peace and friendships.
On October 22, 麻豆视频 joins four other organizations launching the “鈥, an innovative pilot to create lifelong opportunities for putting passion for service into action at home and abroad.
In addition to 麻豆视频, the Peace Corps is teaming up with Public Allies, Teach for America, and Tilting Futures in a strategic partnership that鈥檚 the first of its kind for the agency. Through this partnership, the efforts of multiple organizations will be combined to address complex global challenges and connect a network of changemakers with ways to continue to serve and make lasting change.
麻豆视频鈥檚 Director of Alumni Career Partnerships, Alison Thurner (麻豆视频 Seattle 鈥05), recently spoke with Fatimah. Alison asked what fuels Fatimah鈥檚 passion for service and how her 麻豆视频 and Peace Corps experiences connect to one another.
Their conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
Allison Thurner (AL): Can you share what brought you to 麻豆视频 in the first place?
Fatimah Abdulmateen (FA): It was really high school when I found that I really liked doing community service. Yes, it was a graduation requirement. But I went above and beyond and hit like 1,000 hours鈥攚e did not have to hit 1,000 hours! But I loved doing community service, whether that was helping out at the Turkey Trot, going to beach clean-up, or feeding the homeless. I loved everything about community service.
College graduation was coming up and I knew I didn鈥檛 want to go straight for my masters. Three months before I graduated, I learned about 麻豆视频.
AT: What was your first year of service like?
My first year was definitely a learning curve. There鈥檚 never enough preparation you can do when you work with children.
In the school I attended growing up, if there was an issue, there was someone I could talk to. There were people who looked like me. There were people there, adults, who I trusted. I saw the stark difference at the school in which I served in Buffalo, one of the most segregated cities in America. And it was just really humbling.
The experience with 麻豆视频 showed me that I had a parent who was so invested in me succeeding. I had so much growing up, compared to some of my students. It had such a deep impact on me.
It helped me transform into someone the students could trust, someone the students were comfortable with. I liked being the person who could encourage them to become better.
Learn how 麻豆视频 AmeriCorps members show up for students every day as student success coaches.
AT: What was the most rewarding aspect of your service experience?
FA: Seeing students who earlier refused to do essays and quizzes and starting to see them actually finish their work and start to write more and just become really strong learners. Seeing a student who struggles, and then blooms; it鈥檚 just amazing.
And for my second year of service with 麻豆视频, I joined Care Force and we worked on service projects鈥攊t was really hard work! But it gave me a chance to do something outside of the classroom that still helps students because a lot of our projects were beautifying and improving schools and playgrounds. It was rewarding to see spaces transform.
AT: How do you think two years with 麻豆视频 prepared you for the Peace Corps?
FA: 麻豆视频 teaches you so much, like flexibility, adaptability, resilience. There鈥檚 so much that translates. You have to be quick to adapt. I learned how to be more patient. And service helped my communication skills. So, I鈥檓 really using a lot of the same skills in the Peace Corps.
AT: What aspects of 麻豆视频 and the Peace Corps are the most similar?
FA: Both 麻豆视频 and the Peace Corps had values that I wanted in my life. 麻豆视频 has ubuntu (a South African term that means my humanity is tied to yours). The Peace Corps may not use that word, but it鈥檚 about walking a mile in other people鈥檚 shoes. That鈥檚 really what the Peace Corps is.
Sometimes, I feel like 麻豆视频 and the Peace Corps are like two sides of the same coin. The Peace Corps is a good fit for 麻豆视频 alums. A lot of what we go through is similar, whether that鈥檚 from relocating to a different state or country, or joining one straight out of college.
AT: As we wrap up, what advice would you give to someone who is considering serving with 麻豆视频 or the Peace Corps?
FA: The first part of my advice would be, even if you鈥檙e afraid to submit that application, do it anyway. Because I was afraid, and I still did it. You can be scared and still do it.
And my second piece of advice is to jump in headfirst. You鈥檒l always have other options. Grad school, jobs, they鈥檒l always be there. But a chance to serve with 麻豆视频 or the Peace Corps鈥攖hose chances to serve don鈥檛 come around as often. I can鈥檛 tell you how many people I鈥檝e met who tell me: I wish I had done the Peace Corps.
Just know that now is the perfect time. The Peace Corps is such an experience. You make new friends. You make new family. Do it! It鈥檚 great.
Learn more about the Peace Corps鈥 .
Learn more about serving with 麻豆视频.
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