“I love the flexibility of the PULSE experience. I love the openness of the staff that are here to support us throughout the year. I also love the freedom to do whatever I’d like to do to get to know my community, neighborhood and self.” – Rebecca Michelson
Rebecca Michelson comes to Pittsburgh fromthe Philadelphia area, with a stop in Middletown, CT, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Wesleyan University. Rebecca has a lot of teaching experience, with stints as a Writing Workshop Tutor and Coursera Teaching Intern. In addition to working with students, she has spent time as a legal intern, as a rower on the Wesleyan Women’s Crew, and as the principal flutist in the Wesleyan Wind Ensemble. She is serving at Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board (3RWIB) alongside Simon Doong.
Jordan West: What has been the most valuable part of the PULSE experience so far?
Rebecca Michelson: I have the opportunity to explore my occupational pursuits and myself at the same time. I don’t really know what I want to do vocationally, and it is nice to have a year to figure out what I want to do. It’s also great to learn more about myself while serving in community and getting to know the city.
Jordan: Describe a typical day at your nonprofit partnership.
Rebecca: I arrive and say hi to my coworkers as I sit at my desk. I track the technical assistance we provide and support other coworkers with their projects. I also conduct research for potential new projects, information sheets and brochures. Sometimes I go to meetings outside the office and meet with our partner organizations. I serve with another PULSEr, and we sit right next to each other. When the weather is nice, we eat lunch outside in the patio. Our office has this amazing view of the Allegheny River and the Northside, where we live.
Jordan: What do you love about Pittsburgh?
Rebecca: I love how homey and manageable the city is. There are always things to do, and events to attend, but I’m constantly running into people I know.
Jordan: What is your favorite “family meal”?
Rebecca: One day I made this huge beef dish and my other housemate made these fantastic corn muffins. I marinated the meat and cooked a huge roast for three hours. I love meat; I’m like a two-hundred pound football player when it comes to meat so this dish was perfect.
Jordan: What is the best part of the PULSE experience?
Rebecca: I love the flexibility of the PULSE experience. I love the flexibility of living in a community working towards a same goal. I love the openness of the staff who are here to support us throughout the year. I also love the freedom to explore whatever I’d like to get to know my community, neighborhood and self.
Story by PULSE Participant Jordan West.
Read more Participant Stories from Fellows about their experience in PULSE. If you would like to learn more about the PULSE program, please visit our Serve with Us page.
Also, check out other Stories of Transformation: