“Calling and Purpose”… That’s the big question that everyone ultimately hopes to find, and that is exactly why it is one of the hardest questions to answer. For years I would talk about what I believe my calling is meant to be; I would share my dreams of wanting a nonprofit for minority youth while being a computer science major and business minor. Even though it may have seemed as if I was confident in my purpose I would secretly think to myself that it didn’t make sense. There were days I would sit and contemplate all the different scenarios or obstacles I could possibly encounter. Are my dreams too big or not big enough? Can I actually manifest these concepts into reality? What will it take to make it happen? Am I the right person to pursue this ambitious goal? My thoughts were starting to become overwhelming and paralyzed […]

CAPS Fellows Program has been an experience unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Aside from it being a non-profit organization, it’s honestly one of the best experiences of personal growth I’ve ever been a part of. My experience through the CAPS Fellows Program has provided an enriching experience in what actually happens on a day-to-day basis at a non-profit as well as a business. So far this experience has been one that has really made me start to self-assess how I go about getting things accomplished. A friend of mine by the name of Lem Cartman has a quote that he always says and it really resonates with me because it’s true. It goes, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at start to change.” Throughout this experience, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I love to listen and learn about people’s different experiences and […]

Working with Concordia Place this summer has been an enlightening and unforgettable experience that I will be forever grateful for. In my role as an intern at Concordia Place, I am working with the advancement team, which means that I am helping out with fundraising agendas, and not only have I been able to work and experience what it is like to reach out to different companies and organizations and inform them of Concordia Place’s mission, I also have been able to work on a variety of projects at my internship. For example, a long term project that I am working on is evaluating how the data gathered for our teen programs can be most effective in relaying the information to donors and parents. This has been a challenging task for me because I have never done anything like it before and I would really like to thank my supervisor […]

Prior to interning for the Red Cross I always used to look at group projects as a sort of chore. Now don’t get me wrong, I love working with other people. I just always felt that the distribution of work always seemed to be unequal. By that, I mean someone, usually me, would get stuck with doing most of the work. As a result, I subconsciously began to perceive group projects as burdensome and generally inefficient. Because of my experiences with the Red Cross, I now know that I was completely wrong. Working with other people to solve problems and complete tasks is the best way to get things done–especially in the world of humanitarian aid. Every individual has walked a different path of life and has experienced the world through their own perspective. Those differing experiences and perspectives strengthen a group’s ability to problem solve and to grow as […]

  At Lutheran Summer Music – an organization that is rooted in music, community, and faith – I am the Health Counselor, the person of contact for any health-related concerns. My main role is to transport and administer daily medications and provide standard medical support. In addition to this, I am also a resource for students to discuss their overall mental and emotional health. Overall, I could not have found a more fulfilling way to spend my summer of service. Upon applying for CAPS, my personal statement described in detail how I view healthcare as far more than a routine appointment or a diagnostic test. Instead, I view health as receiving medical care that addresses the multitude of factors that could affect an individual’s access to it. These factors could include social influence, personal experiences, a person’s environment, socioeconomic status, and more. I intend to deliver holistic care that addresses […]

During my time at The Bridge Teen Center so far, collaborating with my coworkers and the teens has allowed me to see how a dedicated team of people can work together to provide free opportunities for students to learn and grow in eye-opening ways. Starting my first day and continuing every moment so far, my coworkers have led by example in inspiring me to be intentional with everything I do and every interaction I have this summer. At The Bridge, it is easy to see the big picture in smaller things I do like making phone calls to invite teens to various programs and putting them into our database. The reward comes when parents are compelled to take a moment to say how blessed they are that their teen found The Bridge this summer or a couple of years past. They have said that their teens have been benefiting socially […]

It has officially been five weeks since I started my internship with Heartland Alliance and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity. From my first day in the office I have been overwhelmed with an incredible sense of community and in awe of the amazing work which my coworkers do on a daily basis. It has caused me to do a lot of thinking. While I have learned so much at this internship already, most of which I can’t disclose, for the purpose of this blog post I want to focus on one theme in particular which has been on my mind since starting in May–that is, the idea of community and boundaries. Throughout my time at Valpo I have heard the idea of work and home life boundaries expressed in both the classroom and colloquially–to varying degrees. Many of the individuals I look to frequently uplift the […]

Arriving at the Kheprw work site for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I was parking not at an office building or cold, emotionless structure. Instead, I had arrived at a neighborhood. This is where most of the workers live and spend nearly all of their time together. Rather than sharing an office space, they share a community. The word “community” has continued to encompass my experience, and it’s what everyone here at Kheprw lives and breathes by. Every night one worker makes dinner for everyone else, and whoever is available will sit together on what’s lovingly called “the porch” as they talk through their day. I have had the pleasure to join on multiple occasions. On the first day I shared some personal passions, including my love of dystopian novels. The second day, I was given a dystopian book to read, free of charge. Moments […]

As of today, I have been an intern at the Bridge Teen Center for around three weeks, and I am finally starting to settle into the apartment that I will call home for the next couple of months. The Bridge is a non-profit in the suburbs of Chicago with the mission to provide “free programs during after-school and unsupervised hours where students can develop mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a safe environment”. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect when I walked in on the first day, but I am already starting to feel at home there, just as hundreds of teens have. Amongst many other tasks, I have been able to help with volunteer events, interact with students in the job-readiness program, and even help a master chef during a student program. Last week, I updated the volunteer bulletin board for summer. At first, this […]

In the two weeks that I have been here at the Grunewald Guild, I have done so much and meet many wonderful people. The Guild is a faith-based non-profit that facilitates summer art programs. There is quite a lot of work that goes into the Guild, like preparing for the guests to arrive, setting up studio spaces, communications, etc. My fellow intern and I have done everything from washing windows and cleaning floors to creating class spotlights that can be posted on various social media. I have already had so many new experiences that I was not expecting. Similar to Katie Endres, who is a CAPS fellow at the Guild as well, I had a few hiccups in getting to the guild at the planned time. I missed the shuttle that would take me from Seattle to Leavenworth, due to a slightly late arrival, resulting in me having to spend […]

I began interning for the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the Red Cross about a month ago and in that time I’ve learned so much about what it means to be a member of a non-profit organization run primarily by volunteer work. To be candid, the work done here is nothing like any of the work I have ever done in the best way possible. Each week has a different schedule and most days I end up meeting someone new as well. However, whether I spend a day canteening at a Triathlon or spend the week mostly at either the Merrillville or South Bend offices, I always learn something new.  What surprised me most in the first couple weeks was the variety of opportunities to engage within the Red Cross. When most people think about the Red Cross the first thing that usually comes to mind is donating blood and mass […]

I searched eagerly for a skyline as my GPS shouted directions at me. It said that I was about ten minutes out from the city. Growing up, visits to Chicago conditioned me to scan for skyscrapers to announce that our journey was nearly complete. Nearly 4 hours after leaving my family, friends, and familiar space, I arrived in Indianapolis. I didn’t know anything about the city outside of the arts scene. However, I would soon be thrust into Indy summer which was already well underway. My host family, the Pumphrey’s met me with open arms and welcomed me into their neighborhood with a tour. In the two weeks I got to spend with them, three kids and a dog, I felt received with open arms.  I have done a lot of things since coming to the city, but by far the best thing about it is the instant sense of […]

I have completed my first week here at The Grunewald Guild! This in itself is quite a feat. I arrived two days later than intended because of flight cancellations that left me stranded in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. This unexpected obstacle was frustrating and filled me with uncertainty for the months ahead. Would I be behind at The Guild by arriving late? Was my checked bag lost to the void? Is this a bad omen for the summer? Now, I sit on the porch of River House where Natalie Gut, CAPS Fellow and friend, and I are staying for the summer. Our view of the turbulent Wenatchee River, thick, tall forests, and glorious mountains settle my nerves. The Guild, like the environment it is placed in, maintains a balance between wild, unkempt chaos and serene moments of liveliness. The Guild is in transition. It, like the river that borders it, […]

A little over two weeks ago, my internship with the Volunteer Recruitment department of the American Red Cross began. Time really flies– I already feel like a fully integrated member of the Volunteer Services team. Over the course of the past two weeks, I’ve taken the time to speak with as many members of the American Red Cross network as possible (whether in my department or not). The key lesson I’ve learned by listening to people’s stories is that the movies couldn’t be further from the truth; employment does not need to be a miserable, never-ending cycle of insipidity. Every person I’ve met has been full of life, and full of love for their position. I’ve really gained hope for my future these past two weeks, knowing that I am not doomed to de spise the career path I’ve chosen (and currently love).  I have also learned about my versatility. […]

Water is everywhere. Above the Earth in the form of both air and clouds. On the surface of Earth in the forms of rivers, oceans, and ice. Inside the Earth just right under the surface.  Could this be why it is the most basic, yet taken for granted, human need? Because it’s everywhere. With nearly 71% of the Earth’s surface being water, and for a person who has water at their daily disposal it can be hard to understand how water could be unavailable, or that people could be going without.  I mean if you think about it, people in the United States even associate water with recreational activities and even vacation, some people might even take its far to say that being in or near the water is their “happy place”. Now let’s think about a few things.  How many times a day do you think the average person […]

I began the application process for the CAPS fellowship by working on a personal statement which took me days – even weeks – to complete. Coming to Valparaiso University, I had struggled trying to simply decide what I wanted to study. Now I found myself sitting in front of a blank page on my computer screen struggling to discuss what my interests were or what possible career endeavors I hoped for in the near future. The only thing I have been certain of since childhood is my desire to help others. Throughout my life, numerous things such as hobbies, sports, and extracurriculars have pulled my attention in various directions. However, the one thing that threaded everything together was my desire to help people. It was not until nearing the end of my internship experience and having an intellectual conversation with a mutual friend of mine that I discerned what it […]

During my time in DC I have found a favorite pizza place, as one always should when living in a new place. Situated perfectly on the route to the Lincoln memorial, &Pizza is the ideal pick-me-up after a long day of sightseeing and easily found when wanting to meet a new friend for dinner. It’s also a chipotle-style pizza place, meaning that you’re able to customize your pizza from the sauce to the drizzle on top and an excellent size for dinner plus leftovers. I’ve found myself going often when with others and it was the first place I ate when moving in for the summer. Like &Pizza, my time as a CAPS fellow has been very customizable both in and out of the workspace. I have been able to choose whether to live at home or move to a big city, to work with child welfare or senior services, […]

Traveling to a new city is one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out where to go, planning itineraries, and observing the distinct culture of the new place. So, needless to say, I was elated to get the chance to stay in Austin, Texas for three weeks as part of my internship with Water to Thrive. Before arriving, I spent time researching and learning about what Austin was like and all of the activities to-do. I have learned when traveling that it is better not to hold tight to expectations, and to come into a new place with as open a mind as possible. Of course, it is impossible to have no preconceived ideas of what a new place will be like, but it has helped me to truly enjoy a new place. Keeping an open mind while traveling has also translated into starting […]

My time at LINC Ministries is quickly dwindling; I am feeling very downhearted towards this memorable chapter in my life ending. I have felt incredibly humbled to be both a CAPS Fellow and an intern for my dream nonprofit. This month I have started a project that has differentiated from the rest of my internship tasks. I have had the privilege of kickstarting a LINC Ministries project called Root to Rise. Saint Philip is a Lutheran church nestled in between the neighborhoods of Logan Square and Rogers Park of Chicago. This region is overflowing with diversity; many of the residents are from different countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. The church has an abandoned Early Childhood Center which has been closed for three years now. At one point, learning was cultivated inside these walls for young children through the hands of passionate teachers, however, it is now […]