What went well?
This week I continued on with lessons in addition to visiting an assisted living community in Alexandra which provides special attention to people with special needs in adulthood with my supervisor. There we informed the residents about what kind of snowsports there are and the fun activities that are available to them. This visit was a slam dunk in terms of our goals since not only were we able to gain a new network of people who now wanted to experience the joys of this sport but now we are scheduled to run two trips for them in September! Although unfortunately I will be in a very dark lecture hall at that time learning that I can't just say the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell anymore as an answer :( The image below shows two residents who are paraplegic but are excited to hit the slopes in September on the sit ski's!
What could have been done differently?
I could have found out the other locations of similar assisted living options around the area though some more talking with the fellas in Alexandra but to be honest, my hands were pretty tied up with getting this one set up as well as coordinating the school's to come the following weeks to the slopes. Fun times to look ahead though as next week will be my last and I've got a couple of lessons lined up in addition to a bunch of bonus days to spend on the mountain!
What did I learn about leadership?
This week I learned that leadership is not just about organizing activities but also about creating opportunities for people who may not otherwise have access to them. This week especially showed me the importance of communicating clearly, building relationships and being willing to take initiative when new opportunities arise. Seeing the residents get excited about trying sit skiing also taught me how rewarding it can be to help others step outside their comfort zones.
What do I want to develop or focus on next?
For the last week and beyond I want to further my networking and communication skills especially when working with new groups and organizations. This can help develop the overall goal of more outreach and organization presence in the disability groups around the area.
This photo was taken somewhere about an hour away from Milford Sound on the 4 hr drive from Queenstown. Unlike other attractions where you wish for nice clear skies, rain is the best for New Zealand's Fiordlands because you get to see waterfalls that only form during rainfall! While many dread such a long drive, I got to say going down these empty roads in a Yaris was super fun :) Although driving in NZ is genuinely a hazard because your eyes are always drawn to the beauty surrounding you T_T