As one of YWCA Central Alabama’s AmeriCorps members, Kenyata Tate knew she would be able to make a difference in the lives of those she served, but she had no idea the impact her two years of service would have on her own life.

After trying a number of different career paths, the 34-year-old mother of three realized that while she’d had success, she wasn’t fulfilled. Now equipped with an AmeriCorps education award and a newfound sense of direction, Tate is returning to school to pursue a degree in social work. “My two years with AmeriCorps provided the perfect opportunity to make sure that this is what I really wanted to do with my life,” she said. “It solidified everything for me and I know what I should be doing going forward.”