When Laura Fliegel decided to become a YWCA Central Alabama AmeriCorps member, she figured she would serve her community for a year before going back to school to pursue a master’s degree in international relations. Six months later, she’s still planning on returning to school, but she’s focusing on a degree in social work instead.

“It’s been a life-changing experience for me,” Fliegel said of her AmeriCorps service with one of the YW’s domestic violence shelters. “It has given me a new career path, amazing opportunities and a broad knowledge base about resources available in our community.”