Shared by Joseph Hurley, as Guest Blogger.

To be able to truly express my love of state parks I first must tell you about where I began with parks, when I decided to make parks my career, and the obstacles I went through to make my dreams a reality. Hopefully, my story will inspire you to push through the obstacles and be successful.

"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts," Winston S. Churchill. I base my life upon this quote; therefore, I have never been the type to give up on a dream. Too many people, in my opinion, lose their way by giving up on something that truly makes them happy.

For a very long time, my family, like much of yours, have always looked forward to the peak of the season. This became an annual tradition resulting in fifteen long years going summer after summer to camp, participating in park events, and simply communing with friends made over the years. As a child, I always dreamt of being a park ranger. I thought nothing in this world could ever compare.

After graduation I applied for a maintenance position at *Breaks Interstate Park. During the beginning stages of working there, my mindset was to simply try it out and see if parks are truly meant for me. Little did I know three months later something amazing would happen. Joining my co-worker at the time, we began to do the usual morning clean-up on the park facilities. After cleaning for about an hour, I ran out of cleaning products and had to get more. Upon stepping from the bathroom an unfamiliar feeling came over me; a feeling of complete assurance that becoming a park ranger is my life's goal. Since this happened, I began to work as hard as I could towards that goal.

Late that season, I began to search for other opportunities in the parks. My now current supervisor had mentioned to me a program called AmeriCorps. At the time, I knew nothing about this program until I began to research the program. She had also assisted me by helping me find a specific program with the Virginia Service and Conservation Corps (VSCC) called the Interpretive Trail Project. I applied and later that spring I received a call for an interview. They ended up selecting me and that April I went for training and begun the Interpretive Trail Project at Breaks Interstate Park.

Little did I know that what was to come would change my life and my whole perspective as to what I would love to accomplish in state parks.

Later, by the end of that season, I truly knew in my heart that interpretation was my desire within state parks. Seeing how inspired guests were as I presented each program, how engaged they were as they asked me questions, and sparking the love of state parks and nature into the younger generation truly made the service all that more enjoyable.

I fell in love with the VSCC that season so much that I had decided I would definitely apply to serve another season.

A couple of months go by, I am now on my third year in state parks and second year serving in the VSCC. I chose this season to step up my game once more and applied and was selected for the Career Development Program. This program is designed for all VSCC members serving to experience being a manager.

A view from the Towers Overlook at the entrance to the park. This is on the Kentucky/Virginia border

As I continued to serve, went to trainings, and got all the certifications the Career Development program had to offer, I soon realized it was about more than just managing staff. In this program, I will be working with all the managers to learn what specific role I would be interested in making my career in the parks. Although, I knew last season interpretation is my chosen interest, I am glad to be able to experience all positions in order to better appreciate how the park system works and what each employee goes through.

The Career Development program has been the most professionally productive for me as a hopeful future employee for Virginia State Parks. From the beginning to the present position in my term, I have had the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. Assisting the maintenance crew in right of way clean-ups to re-establish the electrical infrastructures within the park, helping the Restaurant Manager in preparing for events, to taking inventory for several managers is only a sample of what I am to expect as my term continues. I am very excited to see what the next few months of my service has in store.

*While Breaks Interstate Park is not directly managed by DCR's Virginia State Parks, we do provide some of our AmeriCorps members to serve in their park.

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of articles from AmeriCorps members serving in our Virginia Service and Conservation Corps. Members have been asked to share how they were called to service and what they are experiencing. You may also enjoy: The Virginia Service and Conservation Corps Experience: James River.

To find out about our AmeriCorps programs, check them out here.