Dang, it’s hard to believe it’s already August.
Not gonna lie, I came into this experience feeling like I was ready to conquer my tasks and really blow people away with what I was already capable of. Boy was I wrong. After giving my final presentation yesterday, my site mentors gave me some incredible feedback both about my project and general time at DPSCD, and I needed to hear every word. I had become to reliant on the flexibility and patience of my professors and expected everywhere to give me the same leeway without consequence; and while my site mentors were very understanding and patient with me, they let me know that it seemed as though I took advantage of that. Other areas of critical feedback reminded me of how badly I need to stop assuming that people don’t want me to ask questions. Especially when conducting research for people who know way more about the district/area, I definitely should have reached out more with questions or things I couldn’t find. They let me know that it came across as me lacking interest or initiative 🙁 which is something I should have been fearing so much more than coming across as annoying. I mean, that was the point of this experience, asking for answers from community members who know way more than me, and I would have definitely embraced that more if I could go back to nine weeks ago.
On the bright side, I’m definitely proud of the final project I presented to my site mentors. I compiled an entire plan for a Future Educators Club, which my mentors praised. I was super proud of the praise I received for my “Next Steps” section, where they said that the steps were tangible, specific goals that will be great for the next person on this project to pursue. I really wanted to make sure that my project would be a solid springboard or foundation for the work that would come next in making a DPSCD Future Educators Club a reality, and it sounds like I left a clear path to follow.
I appreciate this feedback and experience more than almost anything I’ve received from formal education. I’m way more sure of my future path and current decisions now than I was 9 weeks ago. I can’t thank my site mentors and the community members I interacted with enough. I’m excited to go forward and learn to let go of the fears that hold me back from doing my best work for myself and others.
Cynthia,
It’s been amazing to hear about all of your work this summer. Feedback like that can be tough to hear, but know that you have done an incredible job this summer and can channel that constructively into your future endeavors. Cheers to an amazing final week and showcase!