The letter a wrote to myself at the beginning of the program is a pretty good indication about how I feel now about DCBRP and my placement. I had such amazing experiences in this program. Not only did I grow as a person, I was able to expand my professional universe to include a lot of people I actually wouldn’t mind working with. My job was amazing.
When the honeymoon period wore off and I was actually in the thick of it all I never once said, I’m going to leave this place, or I’m going to stop working hard. I didn’t have to remind myself that often about why I chose to work at Focus Hope because I was reminded constantly through interactions with the people I worked with. I can’t actually believe I have to go back to school and simply sit and listen to people lecture to me in a couple of weeks.
I learned that I love dynamism is the work place. I don’t think I would have made it the entire 10 weeks if I would have had to sit behind a desk and read, or enter data. I loved working with the participants in the program and being in my own neighborhood, I was able to see people I knew from my childhood, and see how their lives have transformed from a 4-year-old riding bikes outside, to a successful young adult. (I’m only 21 so I think I can also be classified as a moderately successful young adult).
The people in this program were also a pretty great group to be around. I had so many new experiences and was exposed to so many different points of views I rarely considered. I learned that I might actually like bike riding. It might be something that I continue to do in the future. If I wasn’t surrounded by people who like to have fun this summer would have been absolutely miserable. I reconnected with kids from middle school, and got to learn from my cohort members.
I know it’s so tired to say “We will be friends forever” but I met a couple of people this summer that I’m going to hold on to and hang out with during the school year. I might have a pessimistic outlook on the development of Detroit, but this program was a ridiculously positive experience.
