2022 VetsWork: Taylor Payton

by | VW 2022

I grew up in southern Louisiana, in a small town called Walker. I like to spend time kayaking and hiking. Though In LA there’s not much hiking, I hope to do more while in Virginia for this program. After high school, I attended college for a semester but I decided to leave and join the Army at 19. I served as a Cannon Crewmember for about three and a half years. We deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2017. I got out of the Army in 2019. After that, I attended college again; I’ve earned an associates degree in computer animation. I was slotted to do the full bachelor’s program, but the career path just did not feel right. That’s what brought me to the internship. I decided to become a Mt. Adams Institute AmeriCorps Intern because I have a passion for nature and its conservation. Sitting at a desk behind a computer all day is just not in the cards for me. I enjoy being outdoors and working with my hands. I enjoy being helpful and making a difference. I’m most excited to learn something new, to get outside and take care of the planet we call home. I’m hoping to build a strong foundation within the National Forest Service and AmeriCorps. Overall I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started.