As I started my junior year I continued working at United Way. I learned that it was not exactly where I wanted to be, but I really enjoyed the people I worked with, which allowed me to form great relationships with them. They were always willing to help me and talk with me. When the second semester rolled around I really wanted to try a different service site. However, I ended up staying at United Way, but I had the opportunity to finally work on a project.
There is an ongoing project that started out as the Saltville Playground. They began to expand on it, and I was responsible for the strategic planning of a community garden in the area of the playground. This was really fun and exciting for me, but I definitely had some difficult points during the strategic planning process. However, the two individuals that I worked with were extremely helpful, and they were always willing to give helpful hints. Through this project, I was able to network with quite a few people, and it an experience that allowed me to gain some valuable experience. I was able to talk with a guy that was running a successful and large community garden in Marion. I was also able to meet the individuals of Saltville that were on the planning committee for the actual playground. They were willing to give me their input on what they expected and thought would be best for their town. It was an all around great experience, and it will be really neat to go to Saltville to see the community garden that I had I hand in helping plan for.
During my time at United Way, I was able to do many other great things as well. I started out researching substance abuse for areas that were under United Way, and I would give reports to my supervisors every week or two. They always needed help in preparing for upcoming events, and it was always neat to see all the work and effort that went into it all. I also had the opportunity to work with my supervisor in sorting incoming grant applications, which was the first time I had ever seen what one looked like. One of my favorite projects at United Way was getting to help plan and organize a very large fundraising event they were holding.
Even though I did not always see the direct impact my work was having on people, I believe that one of the greatest lessons I learned was being consistent and dependable. My supervisor and other employees knew they could trust and rely on me because I was consistent in my work. Not only did I always show up when I said I would, but I always worked hard to do the best I could with everything I responsible for. Because of this they were willing to work with me when they knew I could not be there. They were understanding of the schedule I had, and I was understanding of the work that they were relying on me to complete. It was a great experience, and I was able to build relationships with some wonderful people.
There is an ongoing project that started out as the Saltville Playground. They began to expand on it, and I was responsible for the strategic planning of a community garden in the area of the playground. This was really fun and exciting for me, but I definitely had some difficult points during the strategic planning process. However, the two individuals that I worked with were extremely helpful, and they were always willing to give helpful hints. Through this project, I was able to network with quite a few people, and it an experience that allowed me to gain some valuable experience. I was able to talk with a guy that was running a successful and large community garden in Marion. I was also able to meet the individuals of Saltville that were on the planning committee for the actual playground. They were willing to give me their input on what they expected and thought would be best for their town. It was an all around great experience, and it will be really neat to go to Saltville to see the community garden that I had I hand in helping plan for.
During my time at United Way, I was able to do many other great things as well. I started out researching substance abuse for areas that were under United Way, and I would give reports to my supervisors every week or two. They always needed help in preparing for upcoming events, and it was always neat to see all the work and effort that went into it all. I also had the opportunity to work with my supervisor in sorting incoming grant applications, which was the first time I had ever seen what one looked like. One of my favorite projects at United Way was getting to help plan and organize a very large fundraising event they were holding.
Even though I did not always see the direct impact my work was having on people, I believe that one of the greatest lessons I learned was being consistent and dependable. My supervisor and other employees knew they could trust and rely on me because I was consistent in my work. Not only did I always show up when I said I would, but I always worked hard to do the best I could with everything I responsible for. Because of this they were willing to work with me when they knew I could not be there. They were understanding of the schedule I had, and I was understanding of the work that they were relying on me to complete. It was a great experience, and I was able to build relationships with some wonderful people.
Third Year Summer Service
The service I did for this summer was not required by Bonner, but I was still able to receive a stipend for the work I completed. I completed 140 hours working with the Newbern Project again. I was doing very similar work, but I had the opportunity to work with some very old photographs, which I really enjoyed. We also took a trip to the museum one day, and we were able to see how all of our work would be used. We also had the chance to go into some of the old buildings surrounding the museum, and we heard some of the history of the buildings, as well as the town. This made all of the work I was doing seem so real. I was able to see the houses of some of the people I had read about, along with where the court house used to stand in Newbern. We also got to go inside the jail that I had read so much about. It was very neat to experience the place I had read and heard so much about.
Below are just a few photographs that I worked with this summer. Many of these photos did not have names or a story to go along with them, so we do not know the full story, which made them interesting to me. We had to interpret from the clues given in the photos, or many times we just had no idea. It was all very fascinating.
Below are just a few photographs that I worked with this summer. Many of these photos did not have names or a story to go along with them, so we do not know the full story, which made them interesting to me. We had to interpret from the clues given in the photos, or many times we just had no idea. It was all very fascinating.