I am appreciative of all the lessons that I have learned this week. The holiday weekend is arriving soon, and things are busy at my host site. This week was the concluded session one of the My Project USA summer camp; we had over thirty students come to the center for camp throughout these four weeks. Students presented the Project Based Learning activity to directors of the organization and their pitch was successful. The students’ models will represent how they want to use open space around the center. Our soccer team went to a tournament, and we are eager to hear about their experience while out of state.

As we concluded our first session, I reflected on the program and its efficiency. I am appreciative of the team’s ability to adapt quickly. We were able to work efficiently to create a wonderful experience for the students. Overall, the students enjoyed their time at the center, improved their education skills, and had a safe space to thrive in. I concluded that it is important to create relationships with the students so they can feel heard and recognized. Many of the students I have worked with need resources and guidance to help them thrive in their environment. I had the chance to see their growth through the program where friendships were made, goals were achieved, and a lifetime experience was cultivated.

Our keynote speaker this week was Mrs. Lomax, a phenomenal woman who is working in the fundraising sector. She made a key point that stuck out to me, “Don’t call them out, call them in.” This brought a new perspective of collaborating with people who others find themselves “calling out” for the things they say. My takeaway from this moment is that there is value in educating and communicating with people rather than degrading them due to their point of view. Everyone has their own point of view the action and reputation behind those words are what is essential. We also learned the importance of screening people to see if they are a good match for an organization. The views of the organization and a donor should align so that there are not many differences between the two parties. I recognized I can use this concept in my personal and professional life so that I can create successful relationships with many people.

I am ecstatic for next week to come. We will be working to finalize small details for the second session of camp, onboard new summer staff, and create a positive learning environment for the students. We hope to have more participants in camp during this session and enjoy their time here. I will be a full week of preparation at My Project USA to have an influence in the community.