I can’t believe it’s already Week Nine! This summer has flown by, and this was definitely one of my favorite weeks of the fellowship.

The highlight of the week was finally seeing our Showcase come to life. It was incredibly rewarding to witness the growth each entrepreneur made throughout their time in the SEA Change program. Watching them confidently present their businesses and share how far they have come was inspiring. One of my favorite parts of the event was networking during the reception. I had the opportunity to connect with professionals working in several career fields that interest me, and I’m excited to follow up and continue building those relationships.

For most of the event, I was behind the scenes helping with setup, logistics, and making sure everything ran smoothly. I really enjoyed being part of the team that brought the event together. It gave me a new appreciation for the amount of planning, coordination, and teamwork required to execute a successful large-scale event. My favorite moment, however, was seeing the entrepreneurs’ reactions as the panelists announced the funding awards. It was especially encouraging to see that even those who did not advance to the final round still received in-kind service packages that will provide meaningful support as they continue growing their organizations. I’m excited to see how both the financial investments and professional service packages impact their future success.

I also thoroughly enjoyed this week’s professional development session with Toshia Safford. Our discussion on leadership and career growth challenged me to think differently about my own career journey. It reminded me to remain open-minded to opportunities I may not have previously considered and to embrace the fact that career paths rarely go exactly as planned. Sometimes the unexpected opportunities are the ones that lead to the greatest growth.

Overall, this week left me feeling energized, inspired, and excited to make the most of my final week as a fellow.