Good evening, Fellows!

On Monday, June 2, 2025, I began a summer-long journey as an intern with the incredible organization Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio (BBBSCO). What is BBBSCO? It’s the Central Ohio affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected youth mentoring organizations. BBBSCO serves children and youth across Columbus and surrounding communities by creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that empower young people to reach their full potential.

I’m honored to be working under the leadership of three amazing individuals in the Impact Department. This department plays a vital role in evaluating and improving the effectiveness of BBBSCO’s mentoring programs. It collects and analyzes data to ensure programs meet youth needs, maintains high quality, supports continuous improvement, and provides transparent reporting to stakeholders. Their work ensures BBBSCO’s programs remain responsive and impactful. Each person in the department leads with a servant’s heart — they remind me daily that their work helps heal the past, strengthen the present, and “throw breadcrumbs” into the future.

If I had to describe this first week in one word, it would be expectancy — expecting to be challenged, to learn, to connect, and to step out of my comfort zone. Although I recently earned my Master of Public Administration, I’m quickly learning that you never stop being a student. True mastery lies in continued curiosity and humility. Several pieces of wisdom from my team have already stood out to me:

1. Show Up Well.
Showing up well doesn’t always mean being perfect, on time, productive, and composed. Sometimes, it simply means being present, even on days when your capacity isn’t what it was yesterday. To show up with vulnerability, honesty, and effort is, in itself, enough sometimes. Have the spirit of excellence, not perfectionism.

2. Be in the Moment.
Tasks will come and go, but what matters most is being grounded in the why. Embrace the process — the victories, the mistakes, the unexpected lessons. This experience is a gift, and I intend to absorb every golden nugget of wisdom it offers.

3. Ask Questions.
As Dr. Lomax reminded our fellowship cohort on Day 1, we only get as much out of our host sites as we’re willing to seek. One of the greatest gifts from BBBSCO has been my onboarding training — I’ve been able to connect with team members across Franklin, Delaware, Knox, and Morrow counties. I’ve learned about their unique paths and perspectives, asked questions about my role, and arranged shadowing opportunities to better understand how Match Support Specialists (MSS) operate. It’s also shown me how the Impact Department ensures quality assurance and supports their important work.

As this first chapter of my ten-week fellowship comes to a close, I am grateful. I’m thankful to The Lord for placing me here, and to the Columbus Foundation for this opportunity. Week 1 is in the books — here’s to what’s next!