Hi everyone! Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving with
friends and family! Wow. It is my final week in Chicago. It may be a cliché,
but time really does fly when you’re having fun. It seems like just a couple
weeks ago I was riding in the car with my family with the skyline in the
distance and my stomach in knots about what the coming semester in the city
would bring. Now I have some new friends, learned how to use the CTA bus and
train system, and gained professional competence. I adjusted to the city far
better than I thought and I’m not sure that I am ready to leave.
I have learned and grown a lot this past semester. I have
been pushed out of my comfort zone and am grateful for it. I once read some
good advice: “Great things never come from comfort zones.” This proved true for
me in Chicago. I am a fairly shy individual unless you know me well and change
makes me nervous. I was challenged to lead groups and speak in Spanish among
other things that were hard for me. Although the kids didn’t always listen and
I didn’t always say the right word, I gained experience and realized that I do
have the skills it takes. I encourage you to take the chance on something new,
because you never know what might happen.
I feel honored to have been able to work at such a
well-established and respected agency as Erie Neighborhood House. Words cannot
express how wonderful my experience has been. The staff is so passionate and
dedicated to the community they serve. The kids have touched me in many
different ways. Their spirit and resiliency amazes me and I am truly going to
miss seeing them everyday.
I am also going to miss city life. I love that there is always something to do - a play to see, an art gallery to visit, a festival to attend, a neighborhood to explore, or a new restaurant to try. I will also miss the rich cultural diversity in Chicago. I am incredibly blessed to have had an opportunity to live and work in this beautiful city. I will be back someday without a doubt. Until next time, Chicago!
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