Building Connections and a Love for Sustainable Farming- Addyson Mooney

While I was in the midst of closing the final chapter of my high school career this spring, my phone lit up with a notification. After a restless day of studying for final exams, asking my guidance counselor countless amounts of college questions, and soaking up the last little bits of time with people I had known since kindergarten, I decided to take a short break from the chaos and check that notification. I opened my phone and saw a text from Lia, a previous YLA member whom I worked with last summer. She asked if I was thinking about coming back, and before I knew it I was filling out the application. While doing so, I was reminiscing about our adventures together last summer as first-year YLA members. Project Grows has given me lifelong friendships and connections with others that I will never take for granted.

Last year, I felt seen and appreciated by everyone on the team, so when I received that text from Lia, I knew for sure that I wanted to have another chance at having an amazing summer at Project Grows. Now, I am the Education Assistant with the Youth Leaders program. This summer I led workshops for the YLA team, ran stations for camp, and overall gained confidence in myself and my leadership skills.

However, I also had another goal in mind this summer: to give others the same great experience I had by becoming the kind of leader who helped me last year. I wanted to help the YLA members grow into confident, responsible, young adults while encouraging them to be their true selves. I am hopeful that I made the same impact on them as my leaders had on me last year. 

If I’m being honest, it’s a strange feeling that I went from a YLA member to a YLA leader in just one year, but it’s a good feeling. I have grown tremendously as a person, and I’m proud to say that working at Project Grows has had a major impact on my life. I will leave this summer with new friends, better connections, funny memories, and a love for sustainable farming.