Old Fields School
By Shefa Benoit
Serving with Hardy County CVB
Greetings from Hardy County, West Virginia! My name is Shefa Benoit (pronounced Shay-fuh Ben-wah) and I am an AmeriCorps member serving my second term through the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA) with the Hardy County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).
Now, I’m not a from-herer. I moved from Washington, DC to Mathias, West Virginia a few years ago. With all the planning that goes into an interstate move, I was still quite unprepared for mountain living. Unprepared for things like navigating the narrow, winding roads that go from paved to primitive in an instant, avoiding the top of a mountain in a storm, never having cell service at the precise moment you need it, and knowing the difference between the screams of a woman under attack in your deep, dark woods versus the cry of a wild vixen (the local sheriff had to point that one out to me one late summer night!).
The combination of my learning curve and a deep sense of isolation left me desperate for a creative way to settle into my new home. It was important to not only learn how to live here but to become a contributing member of the larger community. So, I resorted to what has always been a successful strategy in my case, finding a way to be of good service.
Enter another unexpected surprise! The Hardy County CVB was seeking ways to encourage responsible tourism. The catch? The position was through the AFNHA’s AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps? Isn’t that for those young spirited college graduates seeking experiential learning as they map out their professional paths? What business does a 57-year-old grandmother, semi-retired and still failing to meet my daily step goals have in applying? Wouldn’t I be taking an opportunity away from someone more in need of the experience? Plus, my back wouldn’t endure those “get up and move” drills the young seem so fond of at team meetings!
Sanders Schoolhouse
Nevertheless, I fancy myself a risk-taker and pitched the idea of themed heritage trails as an inclusive (for residents and visitors alike) way to highlight local heritage while encouraging visitors to linger in our county a bit longer than just the rest-stop before heading to their intended destination. Since my new home once included the renovated two-room schoolhouse across the road, why not start with a historical schoolhouse trail? The idea turned out to be an easy sell and with a simple online application and a couple of interviews, I was an AmeriCorps member! Not unlike the first few months after my relocation, I woke straight up in the middle of the night a few times wondering “What have I done?!”
That was the Fall of 2021. And yes, I am pretty sure I am the oldest member in my cohort. Yet, I am now serving a second term. My AmeriCorps journey has given me everything I needed and much more! My project has thrusted me into the community as a trusted and respected member, resulting in close connections and the honor of spotlighting treasured stories. There are new friends to break bread with and a plethora of scenic drives and local attractions to share with visiting friends. This one act of service has taught me about area folkways, local history, and shared values. My deepened sense of belonging to this place is directly related to knowing it on a grassroots level through my AmeriCorps service term.
As an added bonus, I’ve learned my cell phone isn’t as essential as I once thought it to be and, to avoid storms, check the weather in every town I plan to travel through, no matter how close in proximity they are to one another. When the vixen cries in the eerie dark night, I still run frantically outside but it is to make sure the coop is secure and my egg-laying hens don’t become dinner. Yet, the best confirmation of all is when my family describes me as being “brand new!” My service time through AmeriCorps has provided fertile soil in which to bloom into something reimagined and fresh!
If you are an individual of a certain age (or know of one) looking for a deep level of satisfaction within a supportive regional and local community; if you want to explore career change options or meaningful ways to fill a suddenly less demanding schedule; if you could benefit from new doors opening up all around you, look into the many opportunities the AmeriCorps program offers through AFNHA.
Take it from me, YOU are never too old to be of good service! (BTW, those meeting warm up activities are optional!)
The Historic Schoolhouse Trail in Hardy County is an ongoing trail with new schoolhouses added as they are identified and researched. Ride the trail yourself by visiting https://bit.ly/3Bvut1V. You can also find featured articles in Moorefield Examiner’s weekly newspaper twice a month.
