Even though I am only starting week four, I feel like I belong, like I have made great strides, like I have become a part of something pretty awesome. Where I work is different than what I am used to. When they said it was a small office, I assumed it would be like other places worked before- an office with 12-15 people. Just enough to get to know everyone pretty well, and maybe even a few would become friends. Well, when I got here on my first day, I arrived early, but the door was locked. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I made my way back to the car to wait another 30 minutes before trying again. After that, I was able to get in. That’s when I met Laura, the legal assistant/paralegal/doer-of-other-random-things. She introduced herself, informed me that Zac- the attorney and executive director would be late due to a last minute meeting, and showed me around the office. It was not the size of office I was used to. It only took a few minutes to realize that this was only an office of two (well, now three).

In that moment, I was surprised and not sure how the next few months would go. However, it did not take long to realize that having fewer people in the office would give me the opportunity to develop unique relationships with intelligent coworkers and work closely and ask questions of people who have more life and work experience than me.

Also, Charitable Allies is a small office, but one that has a large client base and makes a big impact in the nonprofit world. That meant that starting on day 1, I was given part of the workload, the ability to take on big responsibilities and learn about the legal world in a way I have not been able to before. I was essentially given a case to work on throughout the summer. Along with other responsibilities like writing news articles and doing work on policies for other charities and nonprofits, I will have time to build a case with evidence for one of the firm’s largest cases.

The last four weeks have brought opportunities, friendship, some challenges, but a lot of opportunities to learn. Within one week, Laura and I had found many similar points of interest and now, I consider her a friend. On day one, we realized that in addition to both being Valpo graduates, we also went to the same high school and are from the same side of town. Now, she has shared not only information and knowledge about the legal world and the work that she has done over the last several years. I definitely look forward to more time to get to know her and growing in a work relationship and friendship.

Opportunities for learning, for networking, and for doing meaningful work have been abundant. Just this week, I shadowed a county prosecutor who let me go to court with her and allowed me to ask questions about her career path, her education, and things like work-life balance and finding a calling and purpose. Last week, I was able to attend the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance conference where I met professionals in the philanthropy world at community foundations, trusts, and more and got to attend various sessions learning about the intersections of philanthropies, nonprofits, improving quality of life, and more.

Entering into the nonprofit world was not something that I was new to four weeks ago. I have worked in three since I’ve been in college. But seeing it from the outside, from a legal perspective, and the philanthropy that makes this experience a unique opportunity to explore even more career paths that my life could take. I am looking forward to more weeks of learning, working, and developing relationships.