When most people think about changing the world, they channel Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Ghandi, and other humanitarian heavyweights. 

They think about big-picture, long-term, legacy work. Work that takes an entire lifetime to start, and is never really finished. 

Of course, legacy work is great. In fact, you should really think about the impression you will leave on the world, sooner rather than later. 

But people tend to forget about the small stuff –– the tiny actions that can actually make a big difference in people’s days.  

You probably know the standard ones: holding doors open, saying please and thank you, and generally being nice. We’d like to give you a few more ways to spread love that you may not have considered:

Although it’s been around for over 20 years, many people still don’t know about AmeriCorps. The shorthand definition says it’s the domestic version of the Peace Corps. 

However, AmeriCorps is actually much more than Peace Corps Lite. Every year, AmeriCorps dispatches over 75,000 young adults to make impact and strengthen communities all over the country for a year of service. 

AmeriCorps has several different arms, including State/National, VISTA and NCCC. Each program has distinctive features, such as pay and job responsibilities, but all fall under the AmeriCorps umbrella.
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Members work in nonprofits, schools, public agencies and community and faith-based organizations around the U.S., with positions related to education, public safety, health and the environment. Some members do direct service, like teaching or tutoring, others work in capacity-building.

Considering applying? We’ve complied a list of six AmeriCorps qualities and misconceptions, so you can decide if a year of national service is right for you.

What should you be doing right now?
Working on a project? Checking your email? Walking the dog? Calling your mom? 

Do you feel guilty yet? 

What about the bigger picture questions? Like...

• Where should you live?
• When –– if ever –– should you get married?
• Or have kids. Or adopt.
• Where should you work? What should your career be?
• What should you, ultimately, be doing with you life?

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No matter who you are, you probably have a stack of “shoulds" lying around somewhere. Maybe they’re tucked in the back of your closet or in the refrigerator or in a planner. 

But there is one question you may have never asked yourself: 

What MUST you do? 

It's never been easier to be a native English speaker. 

Look around you. Even if you live in a foreign country, you probably see English somewhere nearby, whether it's a subway station sign, a Starbucks, or an advertisement for a Hollywood film. 

Beyond the global deluge of American culture, it also seems like everyone, everywhere is trying to learn English. As some, like entrepreneur Jay Walker, have attested to, English is becoming the language of problem-solving. The international commonality. 
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So, it begs the question: If you've been saying "Hello,""Goodbye," and "Where's the bathroom?" from a young age, why should you take the time to learn a foreign language?