by Amelia Corner, Quaker Voluntary Service Fellow
I come from a long line of Quakers, and while I didn’t attend meetings regularly growing up, I was still brought up with the values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equity, and Stewardship. I knew, going into college, that I wanted to attend a Quaker college to deepen my understanding of the religion my family hails from and ensure my education was guided by its values. After college, I wanted to do a service program to further explore myself and expand on those values. This led me to what I believe has had the most significant impact on my life so far: Quaker Voluntary Service and Historic Fair Hill.
Quaker Voluntary Service is a 9-month fellowship that provides experiential learning with three components. The first component is learning about Quakerism and spirituality. The second component focuses on personal growth through communal living and transformational workshops. The third component is giving back to the community through full-time volunteering at a non-profit, my placement being here at Historic Fair Hill. I knew it would be a life-changing experience going into it, and I was pleased to realize how much Quaker values show up in the work I do here at Historic Fair Hill.
Simplicity – The simplistic wonder that lights up the room from my students when they discover their love for a book I am reading in the library.
Peace – The grounds at Historic Fair Hill on an early Saturday morning, before we start the programming, the stillness of the library before the first class enters. The peace that comes from knowing I am doing something vital for the community.
Integrity – Making sure I am showing up 100% for my students every day and keeping the promises I make to them and my co-workers.
Community – Taking care with building intentional community with the neighborhood we serve. Making sure everyone in the community feels heard and seen by showing up for community events.
Equity – Collaborating with teachers and staff to meet students where they are at, whether that is sitting with a student who needs extra time to regulate themselves or going into classrooms for those who can’t make it to the library.
Stewardship – Making sure the community we serve has access to the resources they need through the workshops and programming we conduct at the school libraries and burial ground.
Through my work at Historic Fair Hill, I have been able to see these values as daily practices rather than abstract ideas. Through small but meaningful moments with students and the community, I have learned what it means to live out simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equity, and stewardship. This experience continues to guide how I show up, serve others, and move forward with purpose and care.
