For me, Jumpstart has been the most valuable experience of my freshman year of college and was one of the instrumental pieces in my successful transition from high school. The 300-hour commitment was a bit daunting, to say the least, but the rewards were beyond what I could imagine. I developed useful skills such as time management and problem-solving strategies, but the most important impact was my passion for Jumpstart and AmeriCorps as a whole, and I want everyone to be able to experience this amazing work. For those who may be a bit hesitant to start service, here is a countdown of the top six reasons to start working with Jumpstart to end the kindergarten readiness gap.

6. You'll gain invaluable work experience.

If you're hoping for a future in education, particularly related to early childhood or reading, Jumpstart is an incredible way to "practice" before you commit to a lifelong career. You'll learn all of the benefits (and challenges!) of working with a classroom of preschoolers for an entire year, and you'll experience for yourself a potential career path.

5. You'll be able to make money.

Okay, so nobody decides to volunteer with children solely to make money, but the financial benefits of working for Jumpstart can be yet another reason for your service. In addition to the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which can be used to pay back loans from both schools and financial institutions, some colleges, such as Northeastern, will actually pay students work-study funds for their service. This allows Corps Members to focus solely on their education and service without having to worry about an additional job for federal money.

4. AmeriCorps looks amazing on resumes.

Committing to and successfully completing 300 hours of service? That's pretty darn impressive, and companies recognize this. The skills you utilize during Jumpstart service— teamwork, communication, and especially problem solving— are useful in any job, not just those related to early childhood education.

3. You'll make incredibly useful connections.

The Jumpstart Alumni Network is comprised of over 30,000 former Jumpstart Corps Members and Team Leaders, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields. After one term of service, you can join this group of wonderful individuals who are more than willing to help you in whatever way they can.

2. Your fellow Corps Members will become automatic friends.

When you spend at least eight hours a week with a group of people, you're bound to develop a meaningful connection. Corps Members (CMs) come from all over the world with a variety of experiences and perspectives, and these differences can strengthen your relationships with your fellow CMs. One of my fellow CMs even came to stay with me for a few days over Winter Break and bonded with my dogs. These friendships thrive despite differences in majors, housing, and interests, because all CMs have the same goal: to help our partner children reach their full potentials and to work toward the end of the kindergarten readiness gap.

1. The children, of course.

Were you really expecting anything else for the number one reason to join Jumpstart? The children are what we're all about, and their enthusiasm makes even the longest day bright. The growth you will witness in all of the children in the classroom is beyond fulfilling. One of my partner children, for example, moved from one-word emotion responses ("How is he feeling?" "Man.") to telling me that she was "so worried" when I was sick for two sessions. Not only had she used a target vocabulary word, this 4-year-old child had made me feel so wanted and loved, and I immediately felt proud of the work we had both accomplished over the school year. That's the most gratifying aspect of Jumpstart, and it's my number one motivation to serve again as a Team Leader next year.

Want to be a part of this amazing organization? Apply now and get ready for the experience of a lifetime!