Week 6 arrived with an unexpected, almost disorienting speed. Now writing from the quiet comfort of my home back in the UK, I find it difficult to fully process how six whole weeks in Chicago managed to slip by so quickly. My final week with Urban Rivers was by far the most thrilling and demanding chapter of the entire placement, spent balancing the final touches on my academic research posters with the extensive preparation required for the organization’s 5th annual Wild Mile block party. Working closely alongside a dedicated team of staff, fellow interns, and community volunteers, the energy throughout those final days was intense, purposeful, and deeply rewarding.
The day of the block party arrived earlier than any shift I had worked prior. We gathered in the office ahead of the crowds for a quick strategy brief over coffee and bagels, where roles were assigned and operational duties were mapped out. The main stretch of the morning was a test of endurance, involving the physical setup of tables, chairs, banners, and informational booths under the unrelenting Chicago heat that had faithfully accompanied my entire stay. But by 2:00 PM, all that quiet preparation gave way to vibrant community energy as a steady stream of local residents poured into the venue. Sporting my official Urban Rivers helper shirt, I was stationed at the main merchandise table alongside two team members to represent the organization and handle sales.
The event turned out to be a roaring success, and playing an active part in bringing everything together made the weeks of prior planning feel entirely worth it. However, the day also brought a significant personal hurdle. Being social and actively marketing items to strangers at a bustling event was a trial I initially felt ill-equipped to handle. As someone who has always leaned toward introversion, the front-facing demands of the role required a level of outgoing energy that didn't come naturally to me. In a moment of self-doubt, I even debated asking my supervisors if I could swap into a back-of-house operational role—something equally impactful, but safely out of the public eye.
Ultimately, I chose to stay at the stand, and pushing through that hesitation proved to be one of the most transformative moments of my placement. It forced a quiet epiphany regarding personal development: effective leaders are not always born with an innate, booming presence, but are often forged through trial, error, and a willingness to step into discomfort. I may not have been naturally outspoken, but in that moment, I simply had to adapt, embody the responsibility, and trust my ability to engage with the public. Overcoming that friction showed me that leadership capacity expands the moment you stop second-guessing your readiness.
This final week felt like a complete illumination of everything I have learned over the past month and a half. While I will save the broader thematic takeaways for my final formal reflection, I must admit that I never anticipated finding such profound models of leadership, warmth, and genuine humanity within a local environmental initiative. Working alongside the Urban Rivers team exposed me to some of the most inspiring role models I have ever had the privilege to meet, leaving me with lessons in both conservation and leadership that I will carry forward well beyond my time in Chicago.