Two weeks into life in Seattle

By Sarah Lounsbury, Youth Programs Assistant and AmeriCorps Volunteer

It’s incredible how much I learned after only living in Seattle for a few weeks. I moved from a city with a population of 144,000 to one with 652,000. There are half a million more people to observe, to learn from and to interact with in a half a million different ways.

"As my feet push down on the pedals in steady synchronization, I feel like I am learning something. I’m becoming more familiar with my surroundings, recognizing certain landmarks as I ride home each day." – Sarah Lounsbury

Without a car, I have been able to immerse myself in the culture. I ride my bike to work, home and to most other places. I am excited to see the infrastructure that supports bicyclists and am optimistic that these efforts will continue. I have ventured to various parks and seen how families and individuals enjoy their weekend recreation. As my feet push down on the pedals in steady synchronization, I feel like I am learning something. I’m becoming more familiar with my surroundings, recognizing certain landmarks as I ride home each day. I watch others as they stop at crosswalks, red lights and at street corners, all heading in every direction. It’s the only time in which we’re not all riding at different paces.

I believe that in bigger cities, it is easier to come up with bigger ideas. There are more people to engage with and that are able to see both sides of an issue. We all have the ability to advocate for ourselves, to discover our passion and to pursue our goals. It doesn’t matter if you are a youth or an adult. There’s always a way to incite positive changes in our communities. At the grocery store the other day, I saw a man holding a newspaper titled Real Change. He asked if I wanted to purchase it for two dollars. While I told him I didn’t want the paper, I did tell him that I would like real change. 

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One issue I’m particularly passionate about is education. I have worked in many suburban schools, and I am used to the constant upkeep and renovations thattaxpayers are able to afford in those districts. It’s surprising to see some of the inadequacies in urban schools, yet rewarding to see that students are still eager to learn, regardless of the resources and aesthetics of their institution. I’m happy to be part of an organization that brings bikes to urban schools and allows students to learn to ride a bicycle safely. Riding a bike at school can bring joy to a child’s life and provides him or her a simple freedom.

In the next 10 months, I know I will continue to learn more about what it means to serve and help others. It won’t be easy to live on a stipend, but I know there are also other people that have even fewer resources than I do. I am thankful for these sunny fall days in which I have been able to become acquainted with my new city. I am able to view both the mountains and large bodies of water from the seat of my bicycle. I honestly feel like I am the luckiest person in the world. 

In my work over the next few months I will keep pedaling forward, teaching and improving lives. I hope to become more of a leader and inspire children in a variety of ways.