August 11, 2016

Wow! I can’t believe summer and my time with The Foundation For Tomorrow is coming to a close! I’ve had an unbelievable time working for TFFT this summer, and I’ve learned so much. Every morning when I came into the office, I was always faced with a new, exciting project to get started on. I enjoyed being able to work with Meghann, Kaitlin, Ray, Caiti, and the members of our Tanzania team via Skype. Everyone was such a pleasure to work with, and I was captivated by how dedicated all of them are to TFFT’s mission. The Core Values Survey all team members completed is a perfect example of this. The questions in the survey dive deep into the fundamental aspects of TFFT’s mission and the morality of TFFT’s team members. We all ranked our top five core values and then explain how those apply to our work with TFFT. Above all, TFFT wants to ensure that all of its team members are devoted to TFFT’s vision in order to function more efficiently as a collective team.

I have learned many valuable lessons working with TFFT these past two summers. I’ve realized that all individuals are destined for greatness as long as they seek out the opportunities put in front of them. However, once an opportunity has come your way, you must develop a strong work ethic and dedicate yourself to a goal. Seeking help from others and collaboration are also necessary components of achievement because nothing is greater than when strong minds come together. I saw this first hand when preparing for the upcoming Vision Trip. One of my tasks involved using photos from previous trips to create a display for those interested in joining the trip. Despite its simplicity, the project involved several hours in photoshop to make sure each picture looked perfect and told their story. With that said, I couldn’t have completed it without feedback and helpful pointers from our team. This project became a great example of the TFFT’s team commitment; every project is not completed solely by one person, and everyone gives helpful feedback to whoever is in charge of a task.

My experience with TFFT has also emphasized the importance of education. Education leads an individual to a strong sense of empowerment, and it’s essential to reinforce the value of knowledge. TFFT’s Founder, Meghann Gunderman, always says, “Geography shouldn’t dictate how far an individual goes in their life or the quality of education they should receive.” I saw that through working with the team in Tanzania on a scholar letter campaign. We asked scholars to share some of their goals for the future. Even though they live on a different continent, the scholars have the same aspirations and love for knowledge as students here in the U.S. Broadly, I’ve come to appreciate the invaluable education that I’ve received, and I’ve realized how crucial it is for others to experience the same enrichment. TFFT is a phenomenal organization that reinforces the significance of education, and I’ve never been more proud to be a member of such a fantastic team. I will truly miss this summer’s experience, and I will carry the memories I’ve experienced for a lifetime!