Americorps Alumni Paper Interview
(Please feel free to use both sides of the page!)

Date:

Name: ___________________________________________ Age: _________________

Gender: Male/Female Ethnicity: ______________________________

Current Address:

Current Phone (optional): _________________________________

Address Current Until What Date?

Email Address: ____________________

Permanent Address:

Permanent Phone (optional): ______________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Educational level (please circle one):

some high school
high school graduate
GED through Americorps
GED elsewhere
some college
bachelor’s degree (specify ________________)
advanced degree (specify ________________)
other ____________________

2. Americorps Program Name (please include the address and phone # if you know it):

3. Dates Served:

4. Length of Service:

5. Full-time/Part-Time

6. Minimum # of Service Hours required for program completion: 7. Did you complete the program (yes, no)? If no, why did you leave?

8. Briefly describe the service program in your own words:

9. What Project(s) did you take part in? What were your tasks? Do you feel you met your project objectives?

10. Why did you choose to take part in National Service? (Please rank in order of importance, 1 = most important, 10 = least important, N/A = Does not apply; each entry should be assigned a different number)

______ educational award

______ to help others

______ someone told me to

______ to protect the environment

______ career exploration

______ to give something back

______ personal growth

______ job experience

______ nothing better to do

______ other __________________________

11. What did you get from your service experience? (5 = “I definitely got this”, 3 = “I sort of got this”, 1 = “I didn’t get this at all”; circle the response that most closely reflects your own assessment)

teamwork skills 1 2 3 4 5

rganizational skills 1 2 3 4 5

increased self esteem/self image 1 2 3 4 5

leadership skills 1 2 3 4 5

money for college 1 2 3 4 5

confidence 1 2 3 4 5

career contacts 1 2 3 4 5

new experiences 1 2 3 4 5

new friends 1 2 3 4 5

occupational skills 1 2 3 4 5

other _________________ 1 2 3 4 5

12. Choose 3 things from the list above that you ranked 4 or higher. How are these things important in your life now?

13. Describe your first impressions of your service experience.

14. Describe your overall impressions of your service experience.

16. What are some of the biggest obstacles you ran into throughout your term of service? How did you overcome them, ignore them or avoid them?

17. Did you take part in service learning activities? If so, please describe them.

18. How did the (non-Americorps) people you worked with treat you early on? Did their behavior towards you change as your term of service progressed? Did you have to deal with any preconceived notions about youth service?

19. Is your program team based? If yes, describe the team experience. How did being a part of a team affect your work performance? If you were not a part of a team, did you feel the need to form other support groups? How did this affect your work performance?

19. Was your program residential? If so, describe your living conditions, daily schedule and other positives and negatives related to group living space. How do you feel your living space affected your work? If your program was non-residential, where did you live? How did you find housing? How do you feel your living space affected your work?

20. Have your career plans changed as a consequence of your service? If so, how? How do you expect to integrate your Americorps experience in your life goals?

21. Would you recommend National Service to others? Why or Why not?

22. Are you involved in service now? 23. Do you anticipate being involved in service in the future?

24. You may attach additional sheets of paper to describe any anecdotes, complaints, praise, concerns or factual information you wish to share.

Don’t forget to sign the attached release and return to: Christy Matte, 143 Northampton Road, Amherst, MA 01002 Thanks!

Americorps Alumni Project Release Form

The information provided on the Americorps Alumni Paper Interview and in subsequent interviews is for the purpose of exploring the effects of National Service on its participants and for giving voice to past service participants. It is a non-partisan and non-governmental research project.

I understand that the information I have provided will be used for the purposes stated above and may be published as the researcher sees fit.

I have not been coerced in any way to provide this information.

I also understand that my identity will be protected to the extent I specify below.

In the event that the results of the study are published (check one):

______ Do not quote me

______ Please use my full name

______ Please use my first name only

______ Please use a pseudonym

(check all that apply)

______ You may cite my age

______ You may cite my home state

______ You may cite my home town

______ You may cite my service location

If I am quoted in any published work, I understand that the researcher will make reasonable effort to contact me in advance, unless I have chosen to use a pseudonym.

Signed ____________________________________ Date _________________

Print Your Name _____________________________

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:

Christy Matte
143 Northampton Road
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 549-7893
cmatte@student.umass.edu

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created 3/3/97 by clm