The focus of our first meeting was to clarify Giana’s vision for the change in the world that she most wants to influence along with the scale and type of service she’d enjoy. We also explored her strengths, goals and preferences.
Here’s what surfaced in our exploration about her community service:
Her vision for change was “to make as big a difference as possible empowering girls.”
Her preferences included -
- a large-scale independent community service project
- being in a leadership position and possibly co-leading with the right partner
- a combination of direct (one-on-one) and advocacy roles for her type of service
- stopping a problem before it starts or soon after (regarding effecting change through service)
Other important considerations, as her project is chosen and implemented:
- Her goals are related to being positioned to achieve admittance at a college that fits her longer-term goal of becoming an ambassador.
- Her strengths encompass public speaking, organizing, finding solutions, debate, ambassador roles, and writing. (Wow!)
- She really likes having choice and flexibility.
- She prefers organizational culture that honors uniqueness and diversity in personalities, interests and priorities.
As we talked, I was increasingly inspired and excited about what she brings to her project and whatever she decides to do in her life.
We talked about project areas that she was already considering, which included helping children in the Philippines and the human trafficking problem in Seattle.
As we wrapped up our first session I checked with her to make sure that our approach to working together was in fact working for her. I felt very encouraged when she responded that she liked what we were doing and that she really liked ‘not being treated like a kid.’
This feedback was affirming for me. I am not coming from a parental point of view – my intention is to create a collaborative team relationship with her. I am an advocate for her being her highest and best self as she identifies her particular calling and creates and leads a satisfying and highly successful service project.
photo credit: smith_cl9
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