PEMBERVILLE - At Eastwood Middle School, Laura Bowers is the go-to woman.
"That's pretty much my job title, 'whatever you want me to do, I will do,'" said the 28-year-old with a laugh. "Give me something, I will never say no."
Bowers has been in service at Eastwood this school year as an AmeriCorps volunteer. She's paid a small stipend to work in the district, mainly helping students who are struggling with completing assignments, getting homework done or understanding instruction in the classroom.
For five class periods during the day, she works one-on-one with sixth or seventh-grade students, sitting with them in class, making sure they're taking notes and comprehending teachers' lessons.
She also heads up the "lunch and learn" program and "homework help," which is after school. This week, students in the after-school group were working on speeches and studying for tests in the middle school library.
Bowers, who has a bachelor's degree in history from Youngstown State University, jumped at the chance to work in a school.
"For me it was a learning experience. This is a chance to find out what's going on," she said. "I didn't realize how much teachers have to deal with."

John Cavendish, who works with Bowers in the homework lab, said she is a natural teacher.
"I told her the other day, she's a teacher she just doesn't know it yet," said Cavendish, who is a tutor with the Wood County Educational Service Center. "What I see in her is she likes to see the light bulbs come on, and that's how you get hooked becoming a teacher."
He praised her attitude and work ethic.
"She doesn't sit back and wait for someone to tell her what to do. She's looking for new ways to help the kids. It's always 'what can I do, what can I do, what can I do. She takes the initiative on her own," Cavendish said.
Bowers started the one-year position Aug. 24, around the same time that her husband, Bret, began a Ph.D. program at Bowling Green State University.
The two had toyed with the idea of signing up for the Peace Corps, but Bowers said they were hesitant about the two-year commitment. Through Wood County Corps, she's met new friends who share her enthusiasm for volunteering. There are about 10 people in Wood County Corps, the local division of AmeriCorps.
When her service at Eastwood is completed, Bowers knows she wants to continue helping and inspiring others.
She gets excited talking about a United Way Web site that, she said, makes it simple to volunteer.
"You click 'volunteer' and put in your hours, and whether you want to work with animals or children, what time of day, and it gives you lots of options."
It takes away the excuses for not volunteering in the community, Bowers said.
"If you don't want to work with people, get in the parks. They always need something."
According to the Web site, each year AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups.
The third annual AmeriCorps Week takes place May 9-16.
On the Net:
www.americorps.gov