my internship- the end

I really can't believe that my internship is now over.  It seems just like yesterday that I was packing up for my internship, touring the NNH facilities, and meeting all the staff and kids at NNH.  It really was a wonderful summer and I learned so much about myself as a researcher and as a worker at NNH.  Yes, there were some challenges I faced over the summer, but none of them were so hard that God could not pull me through.  I saw staff leave from NNH after I got close to them, I experienced the difficulties of having to adjust without having an Educational Director, and I also had to learn how to handle disobedient kids (which is not one of my strengths).  All these things did in some ways push me out of my comfort zone.  However, the positives over the summer far exceeded the negatives.  Not only was I able to grow as a person over the summer, but I gained so many friendships that I will always cherish.  Also, I've seen in myself a desire to really want to help people in a way that I've never experienced before.  I've known for a long time that I would like to be in a career that involves helping people hopefully through community development, but I didn't realize how much that desire would be stirred within me over this summer.  There's just something about working at a place like NNH that makes you excited about the people you see everyday and about walking alongside kids who may be struggling at home, in school, with discipline, or any other problems that kids face in life.  I know that there were a number of times where I learned a lot from the kids about life in general and I was humbled on several occasions when my assumptions were challenged.  But that's what I loved about the summer.

In regard to the last week of my internship, it was very busy.  With a 10 page single space written report, a research design critique, two reporting assignments, a weekly log, and a power point presentation, let's just say I didn't get out of the house much (except when I went to coffee shops to also work on my papers).  Overall, the paper writing was not too bad.  It just took a lot of contemplation, reflection, and organization.  When you finally have to sit down and write about everything you've done over the summer, it can be a little overwhelming.  There was definitely a few moments where I just felt like I couldn't do anymore.  But, I realized that I just had to take one step at a time and one day at a time so that I could get through everything.  I began writing my papers last Sunday and finally turned in all of my assignments on Saturday evening.  Also, I did my presentation for NNH on Friday.  I think it went really well even though it was really low key.  I just went through a power point presentation for the new Educational Director and the Executive Director while we were all sitting around a table.  It was very comfortable and conversational.  I liked that both of the people really wanted to know what I had to hear and even took notes while I was talking.  While I know that I didn't come up with some big theory or conclusive information (which I knew I wouldn't), I do feel like I was able to offer NNH something "helpful and sensible" (as one of my community development professors likes to say).  In the end, that was more than I could ask for.  Also, they told me that I should come back and work for them next summer, which was really exciting.  Obviously I don't know for sure my plans for after graduation, but its at least nice to know that there's an option out there for me (and an option I would love to take up on).  

So, that's about it for my past week and really my whole summer.  Thanks to all who've kept up on my blog, have been praying for me, or have contributed financially toward my internship.  My internship would have been much harder if I did not have the support you all have given me.  Most of all, I thank God for all the things he's taught me and all the blessings that he's showered on me this summer!