Week five has been challenging to say the least. Being the oldest fellow for this summer fellowship program and only the second one selected from Columbus State, the pressure is on. In my stage of life, I take whatever I am doing seriously, but unfortunately, life often gets in the way. Being towards the end of my academic program, there is always something to throw me off track despite my best effort. I am so grateful for the opportunity for the summer fellowship, but it greatly changed my life. I was leaving a job that I had been at six years, financial stability, now uncertainty after summer. That job allowed me to do other daily things, including homework and house management. Like many of the members of At Home By High, their lives are full and complex. Many of them are intergenerational caretakers, despite chronic health issues or financial strain expected to be available and ready to assume responsibility for someone else’s child, their stuff, or the stability of someone. For two regularly active members, this is the case. They both have chronic health problems, but their homes are where their families often leave their stuff and responsibilities of children for someone else to assume. The first one takes care of her mentally disabled grandchildren, keeps them active, participates in Special Olympics, and connected to the community. With one of them having limited verbalization, they look to her to make decisions, speak for them, and provide guidance and protection. She exhibits grace, presence, and patience, especially regarding her family. The other member has an infectious smile and a joyous spirit she is raising her young grandchildren, great-grandchildren, grandnieces, and nephews along with foster children. Assisting her clear out her storage unit, it was a time capsule of all the people she helped. She had not been in that storage unit for twenty years. It had personal items from family members for her to hold onto for them, now probably forgotten about, records, documents, and manuals for training when she was a foster parent, and lastly, toys, gifts, and personal mementos of her and her family’s lives. To their community and their families, they are pillars of stability despite aging and health issues often still putting other’s needs before theirs. They are the type of women if you have a problem or need help they are there with their arms open welcoming and sharing anything they have. They embody being everything, everywhere, and all the time. As I go through my second act in life, I am older, wiser, and have more experience but life’s responsibilities and obstacles are real, especially when you are older. The quote “youth is wasted on the young” is beyond real to me, I wish I had the energy and naivety of my youth right now. Now I do not have the luxury of making careless mistakes, wasting time, or not caring for myself. This week I felt like I was failing to do it all and falling further behind, but I know this is a chance of a lifetime which I am learning so much from. The rigors of the non-profit organizations and service work are real but so rewarding. It is always harder at the end of the journey. Pursuing your true path will always have obstacles to have you fail. My perseverance will prevail, and I learn so much from my obstacles, trials, delays, and difficulties. Being everything, everywhere and all the time is exhausting and mentally draining, so keep moving, rest when you are tired, and give yourself grace and understanding.