Unexpected Lessons From the Journey

My time here at M E Clarke Consulting is coming to a close as another semester has flown by. As I prepare for my next obstacle on the horizon, the final semester of college, I am taking this moment to remember my time as the Community Storyteller for M E Clarke Consulting. This has been such a giving experience, both personally and professionally. I have learned lifelong lessons, which I plan to continue to live by and pass on to others.

The most important lesson I am taking with me is the practice of self-care. Self-care is exactly as it sounds, taking care of oneself. Meghan equated it to putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others; if you are gasping for air, you cannot help others. I am continuing to see the importance of self-care as the weather turns. Traditionally I hibernate and complain about the cold, waiting for signs of spring to emerge. I am inspired to brave the winter! I am dressing warm and enjoying the outdoor activities I normally miss this time of year. I can already see the positive effect this is having. I have more energy and feel that I have purpose, beyond huddling under the covers.

I have also learned to develop and embrace my strengths while being here. Not only did I complete the Strengthfinders© assessment at the beginning of my journey, but Meghan and I continued to discuss them throughout my time. Working at larger companies it is easy to get caught up in everyday, minor tasks. Here, we do it all! I learned how important it is to make time for big projects and this allowed me to utilize my strengths and develop my goals. The work I was able to be a part of was such a great experience. The biggest reward was the amount of projects where I took ownership.

I cannot put into words how much I truly learned during this experience because I believe I will continue to uncover the gifts of the past four months, lessons from the journey