Rooted in Growth - Addyson Mooney
As I began wrapping up my first year of college this past semester, I reflected on my amazing experiences and the people I met during my time there. Throughout the year, there was one question in particular most college students answered more times than we could ever count: What is your name, major, where you're from, and past job experiences? Whether it was introducing myself to a friend for the first time or pitching myself at the biannual job fair, that question seemed to follow me everywhere. While curating the perfect answer to this question became part of my routine, the same surprised and curious look would appear on everyone's faces whenever I mentioned that I had previously worked on an educational farm. To everyone who is reading this blog post’s surprise, this farm is Project GROWS.
This is my third summer working at Project GROWS, and I’ve absolutely loved every moment of my experience. I am entering my second year at the University of Virginia, where I am studying civil/environmental engineering. During my first two summers at Project GROWS, I worked as a Youth Leader in Agriculture (YLA) member, but this year I was especially interested in joining the education team as an intern.
After helping with summer camp for the past two years as a YLA member, I had prior experience working with campers and leading educational activities. I wanted to immerse myself in a more education-focused role to grow my interpersonal skills with my team, campers, and volunteers within the community while teaching people about the importance of sustainable agriculture.
Throughout the summer, no two days have looked the same, which is what I loved about this internship. There were always new faces, activities, or lessons that we facilitated as a camp team. The most memorable part of this internship was seeing curiosity energize all of the campers each day as they learned more and gained confidence as they spent time on the farm. Seeing the joy on their faces as they harvested a carrot from the education beds or learned about and tasted sorrel for the first time has truly made this summer unforgettable.
Looking back, I have grown so much over this past summer, along with the two summers before this. As I head back to college in the fall, I have even more stories to share, more confidence in myself, and a stronger appreciation for the realm of hands-on education. What once started as a simple answer to an introductory question has become a meaningful experience in my college years. I am incredibly grateful for all of the time I have spent here at Project GROWS and for all of the people who have made these past three summers so memorable. All I know is that these lessons, friendships, and experiences will stay with me for a lifetime, and that is all I can ask for.