How Clay Gang Began

YMCA Ropes Course (September 2014)

It isn’t always easy to make friends when you move to a new place and try to find a role in a group of new people. I’m not sure if it was fate - though I don’t doubt it was - that all the Clay County AmeriCorps members were destined to be friends. We call ourselves Clay Gang; we were the four AmeriCorps members that lived far away from the rest of the Corps in Duval County. We all got along great from the start, and tried out as many ethnic restaurants, dance scenes, and new city adventures as possible. We had a lot of fun!
Backtracking to when I was picking roommates before the term began, I faced tough questions such as “Will I like these folks?” and “Do they like to go out on the weekends?” I know that everyone’s priorities vary, but I wanted to live with people that I liked and these things really were (and still are) important. Somehow, my roommates Victoria and Janani came out to be perfect matches! I used to find it hard to believe that living with complete strangers could bring about a solid friendship, but this year has certainly proved that wrong. The fourth member of Clay Gang, Josh, came into our friendship circle later on. He was accepted to the program a little after the rest of us, but it didn’t take long for us to realize that our new friend was a great person. As the four of us became a team, our Clay Gang adventures began.
I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to meet these three great people, especially because this was a hard year for me. Life happens, no matter what. In this year alone I had a medical bill unjustly sent to collections, my car broke down, and I bought a car, got in a car accident, and even picked up a second job! Clay Gang was a great support network for me during these moments of crisis. Not only did my life go upside down for a bit, but I had just moved all the way across the country! Everyone’s AmeriCorps experience will be different. I know mine was hectic but the amazing thing is that I survived! I realize now that a supportive environment truly is how people grow and succeed. Not only did I receive this from my friends, but my host site as well. While creating a home away from home, Clay Gang became my family, and that’s how I will continue to see them as we move forward in life.

Christmas 2014 from left to right (Victoria, Janani, me, & Josh)

This blog post was written by NFHC member Gardenia Duran.

Gardenia serves at The Way Free Medical Clinic as a Community Health Education Coordinator.