Christina Chin
Greenfield Community College
Christina Chin began volunteering with the Federal Street Elementary School as part of Read Across America Day, a celebration of the life of Dr. Seuss. As a parent of a student entering first grade, Christina applied for the VISTA position working with the Elementary School to ensure that her son would benefit from the program the following year. In her role as VISTA and parent, Christina communicates regularly with the teachers to plan and provide and deliver programming that enhances the first grade curriculum. Christina recruited GCC volunteers from all majors with activities focusing on fossils, book making, mapping and art. She provided a "College Positive Volunteer Training Program" and reached out to fellow AmeriCorps members to expand the program. Christina will graduate with an Associate in Science degree majoring in Business Administration Transfer from GCC with a 3.7 GPA. She is enrolled in the Honors-to-Honors program though the University of Massachusetts Amherst and will complete a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Economics. She is the Secretary for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, participated in the Student Senate trip to Washington, DC, and the Million Women March. Christina understands the value of investing in our schools.
Personal Statement
I started volunteering when I was in middle school and value civic opportunities that help create social change. As a teenager, I served as an education assistant at the New England Aquarium where I provided hands-on learning in exhibits, public education, and conservation methods. More recently I have volunteered in the local soup kitchen, helped plan a fundraiser for a women's shelter, and marched for women's rights in Washington, D.C. Last month I completed my Associates Degree in Business Management and I plan on continuing my studies in the fall with a focus on ethics, public policy, and emerging markets. My time as a MACC AmeriCorps VISTA has strengthened my belief in working toward creating a fair and equitable future for all citizens where education plays a key role.
As a student and parent, I believe that there are many important educational needs in my community that should be reached, rewarded, sustained, and expanded. I dedicate my time as a MACC AmeriCorps VISTA member enhancing Greenfield Community College's early college awareness mentor program. I believe that engagement is the key to learning. The early college awareness program is a collaborative approach designed to assist students learning opportunities across all fields of academic study and instills the benefits of collaborative cooperation, communication and student participation. I believe this program could be expanded to serve more children in and around the community of Greenfield. I look forward to working towards that goal with my remaining time as a VISTA.
