Reflection: Next Steps

As I wrap up my internship in Nicaragua, my thoughts inevitably turn to my next project, and to how my experiences there have already shaped its outcome.  Right before I left for Nicaragua I happened upon an application for another internship through the Community Health Internship Program (CHIP). CHIP is designed to offer internships thought the state of Wisconsin to students interested in community and public heath. For quite some time I have been thinking about pursuing a career in public health, but have been a little overwhelmed by the different paths I might take within that field. Although I was leaving the country in just a few days, I thought, “Why not?. If I don’t get it ,I’ll go home to Minnesota and work this summer instead, and that’s OK; if I do get it, that’s even better! ”

Of the three I applied for, working at Toki Middle School in Madison was my top choice. Not only was it accessible via public transportation,  but I am already renting an apartment in Madison, and thus wouldn’t have to spend my stipend on extra rent. The internship consisted of training staff for a summer garden camp, in gathering materials, in garden planning, and in building curriculum. Since I knew that I wouldn’t get an answer until part way through my internship in Nicaragua, this new opportunity soon was pushed to the back of my mind.

In mid-March I got the call saying that I had passed the initial application process and was now onto the interview portion. I set up a Skype interview and quickly went to read the description for my potential internship once more. So much time had passed since I had applied that I wasn’t even sure what the exact job description was anymore. The more I read, the more excited I became, because this internship was essentially what I was already doing in Nicaragua, but on a much larger scale. At that moment I was in the midst of my teaching, and finding that there is a sort of electrifying terror and excitement not knowing what is going to happen each day, and then trying to deal with it in another language, The idea of this internship’s having what seemed to be unlimited resources, reliable support and a multiplicity of projects was like seeing some kind of promised land--where the paper flowed freely and there was such a thing as a PTA! One of the reasons I am excited about this summer opportunity is that it will  make a wonderful comparison with, and contrast to,  my time in Nicaragua. I also discovered during my interview that Toki Middle School is in a “food desert.” One of their big goals for their garden project is to promote healthy, sustainable eating and provide community access to this kind of food. I have always been passionate about healthy, sustainable food and this is the perfect opportunity to get some hands-on experience in making a difference.

 One of the many things I have learned from this internship is a love of curriculum development. Writing out my lesson plans during the week I would be almost giddy with excitement, and couldn’t wait to do them with the kids. Having to improvise, improve, adjust, or completely throw it all out and start from scratch was a challenge I looked forward to. Getting the chance to work with teachers on developing curriculum for an entire school year, sounded like an amazing opportunity to gain more experience , and to observe and learn from professionals. Don’t get me wrong-- I loved working on my own and coming up with my own lesson plans, but it just isn’t the same as working with a team. Each person brings something different to the table, and I don’t believe a project can truly reach its full potential without the collaboration of at least two people. I think some of the most successful activities that I did with the kids in Nicaragua were a result of working with Lesbia. (Lesbia is an agronomist who I worked with in the schools).  

I have been thinking about the skills that I will bring to the team at Toki Middle School.  There are of course the obvious resume skills: organization, time management, strong communication skills, attention to detail, etc.  In addition to these, I think I bring a unique experience because of my experiences in Nicaragua. This is the first year Toki is seriously implementing the gardens into the curriculum, and there will inevitably be bumps along the way. That is exactly what Nicaragua was. Again and again plans never went through, the money wasn't there, I didn’t have resources, etc. but I learned how to improvise and learn from the experience so that the next time would be better. Developing curriculum is intimidating, especially when you don’t know if something will be successful, or if the students will respond to it. I know that my time in Nicaragua has prepared me for this, and gives me a unique perspective that should be a valuable contribution to the team at Toki.