1. What Went Well?

This week, I attended the final KIU lecture, titled "Freedom as identity marker in CEE: Lessons from Ukraine and beyond." I also worked on my final presentation, compiling the data from both of my projects into a unified, organized presentation for my colleagues. I'm proud of where the presentation is at, though I do think it still requires a few changes and additions. This week, I also was able to have a conversation in a Polish bakery! It was super short, but I was able to get the pastry I wanted without too much of a struggle, which felt like a huge win. 

2. What Could Have Been Done Differently?

I think I slightly misjudged how long it would take to compile all of my findings into a final presentation and to ensure that it was visually appealing. In all honesty, I probably should have started on this presentation last week, and I probably could have been more efficient with my time this week. That said, I was able to have some awesome conversations with my colleagues that I felt enriched my work. I would say that I plan to focus better next time, but I really don't regret the conversations I had: many of my colleagues are from Ukraine, and I learned a lot from talking to them on a deeper level this week. 

3. Leadership Reflection (3Cs Model)

Values

This week "Curious" was most visible in my leadership. I spent a lot of time speaking with and learning from my co-workers, and I'm really grateful to have had those conversations. There was probably some tension between "Curious" and "Fast" this week though as I spent relatively more time talking and less working than usual. 

Character

This week, like last week, was probably also primarily a test of accountability. Better judgement in holding myself time-accountable might have meant that I would not have extra work that still needed finishing up, but the judgement call I made was that I would benefit more from engaging with my coworkers than from wrapping up everything quickly, and I stand by that call. I learned A TON this week from those conversations, and my presentation was already scheduled for after I left, so the time working on it at home definitely felt worth everything I gained from my conversations this week. 

Capacities

This week I most relied on people, for which I am incredibly grateful. I really love all of my co-workers, and I'm definitely going to miss them when I go home. I felt a bit stretched trying to get all of my work done while leaning into conversation this week, but I know I'll b able to get through everything before delivering my final presentation.

4. Ethical Engagement

This week I primarily occupied a learning and supporting role as I worked on my final presentation and learned from my colleagues' lived experiences. My main contribution this week was making my research easily understood for potential readers outside of the organization I was working with. One conversation that really stood out to me and that shifted my understanding of my work was speaking to a colleague about an upcoming family visit he was looking forward to. His nieces were visiting, but their father couldn't join them as he's not allowed to leave Ukraine right now in case he is needed to serve. I knew about the restriction on fighting-aged men's exiting the country conceptually, but it felt so much more visceral to hear it discussed in such a personal and casual manner. 

5. Adjustment & Development for Next Week

Next week I'll be back home! It's crazy how quickly my time in Frankfurt Oder passed. I plan to continue engaging with my summer research topic, and I look forward to continuing to improve my research organization and presentation!