So, I’m a little weird.

Everyone knows working as an intern involves making copies, getting coffee, organizing documents, and the like, right? Well, the weird thing about me is: these “little things” excite me. Be that as it may, as “the intern” for Expanding Lives, making copies, getting coffee, and organizing documents was probably close to 2.5% of the work that I did this summer.

From day one, I was treated like family. Although never having met Leslie before, she drove right up to me in her sky blue Honda hybrid stick shift, welcoming me into her car with no hesitation. Little did I know, she would soon trust me with the most rewarding responsibility bestowed upon me thus far. Since Expanding Lives had to adjust its agenda this summer, I was able to experience the questions, concerns, outcomes, and successes of making changes to an already newly designed program. Instead of bringing high school girls here for six weeks, because Ramadan moves up every year, Expanding Lives decided to bring back girls that have been here before. After the application process was completed, Expanding Lives' board chose the top applicants to return to Chicago to prepare a leadership conference to be held in Niger for girls in 7th and 8th grade.  I was able to see the importance of the “little things” in smoothly running a non-profit – something I hope to do in the future. Within the first week, Leslie and I were sitting side by side – me organizing pictures, she e-mailing volunteers, calling job shadow connections, and gathering 3-day CTA passes; we understand the importance of the “little things.”

Because a lot of my work was done behind the scenes, when I was finally able to meet Rakia, Rahila, Aissa, and Rahilatou it was all the more exhilarating. Although it took a few days to get comfortable with each other, by the fourth day we were all sitting around talking about our lives, being sarcastic, and sharing our feelings. Now this might seem corny and obvious, but I find it more difficult to be serious and talk about my beliefs and ideologies with my friends from home than the friends I make while abroad abroad, and this was the most refreshing part about Expanding Lives for me. I was able to be in America, in my home city of Chicago, and bond with people over things I really only express while I am abroad. Making decisions has always been hard for me, and solidifying my beliefs and feelings even harder. Through the long discussions with these girls, I was able to come to terms with many beliefs that I have been suppressing or holding back, because I was scared to express them.

This internship was a great experience logistically and socially, but I also came to terms with a new notion of time. It is not about the getting things done as fast as one can, just so one can say he or she has done something; it is better to spend 3 years working on something that you love, making it the best it can be, making something you are proud of, something you enjoy, something you want to show off! It might take me a few years to really find out what this “thing” is that I love so much, but it is electrifying knowing I have these basic skills of how to make things happen, something I could only thank EL for.

One would imagine, if organizing documents excites someone, then actually experiencing the impact of a program like Expanding Lives really gets him or her motivated and moving. This summer made me realize that any development, no matter how small, makes an impact. Expanding Lives is all about a few women learning basic skills, and spreading it to someone else, who spreads it to someone else, who spreads it to someone else, and soon enough, a whole country will have a population full of female leaders!

As I am about to embark on a year abroad in Kenya, what I have learned this past summer will help me open up to people, take notice when something stands out to me, and be proactive when I want something to happen. Expanding Lives has given me skills, experiences, and memories that I am so unbelievably thankful for. Without Leslie, the Senior Board, Junior Board, the four courageous girls I met this summer, and the many more in Niger, I would probably still be twiddling my thumbs, naively hoping everyone will one days just drop the weapons and love each other.