I came into this internship with a lot of expectations. I just graduated college, I moved back to Fort Wayne, and I landed this awesome internship. It was going to be a perfect summer.

But it has not been perfect. Because I just graduated college, I moved back to Fort Wayne, and I started an internship. If I could sum up the first 4 weeks of the internship in one word I would use "growth."

Taking all of the journalism skills I learned in college that I have been lugging around in my back pocket and learning to implement them in the adult working world has been a challenge and a deep learning process. Learning to understand my value as someone who is producing content, as well as staying tuned to the heart of what NeighborLink is about, has been a lot like learning to ride a bike when you keep falling and scraping your knees and elbows.

Sometimes I think we create a disconnect between who we are and what we do. We separate how what we do impacts who we are. But what I'm learning is that being a part of this team means bringing all that I have to offer to be a unique extension of the mission of NeighborLink and learning as we go to integrate and immerse myself in NeighborLink and tell its story. I'm still riding with training wheels and some healthy doses of fear. But the more I keep going, keep getting back on the bike, the less afraid of falling I get and the more confident I feel.

I have been so thankful for this internship, because although it's been hard at times, I have been growing and learning as both a young professional and a person. I have also been able to connect to my city in a way I never have before as my eyes have been opened to an array of neighbors who all have a story. It has been a fascinating experience to see my city with new eyes and feel a new wave of compassion.