My second week in Mexico City has been eventful, to say the least. Building on last week’s work, we continued our research to develop a system that can operate independently while scaling to Quintana Roo.

During the Makesense portion of our schedule, we learned about design thinking, a concept I recognized from architecture but had not appreciated as so expansive. A key lesson is iteration: continuously working while considering external factors to solve internal issues. This approach enables our solutions to address community problems directly rather than becoming insular.

Beyond the technical aspects of the project, the project’s value extends beyond busy work. As I noted last week, we have become part of the Rennueva family, sharing meals and playing soccer together. That bond facilitates collaboration; it demonstrates that we are not merely interns who fetch coffee or perform trivial tasks. We are genuine members of the team, offering input and receiving opportunities on equal footing. The company’s CEO, Hector, often says, “You interns set the pace; I am just here to listen.”

That sense of trust naturally extended into another aspect of the program. Furthermore, a new leadership component was added to the LIA, granting us access to volunteers whom we will be guiding. Navigating the language barrier was initially difficult, but it revealed that true leadership emerges in uncertainty. Exact translation is not always possible, and working around those barriers is essential.

Outside of our work and leadership responsibilities, I continued exploring Mexico City’s sites. I visited the Museo de Arte Moderno and saw a striking exhibit featuring Frida Kahlo and other modern artists who reinterpreted her work to address contemporary issues.

These experiences, both inside and outside of work, have shaped how I view leadership and service. Living in Mexico City has enabled me to perceive issues more profoundly than I could as a volunteer in my own community. Acknowledging the limits of my knowledge is essential; it is humbling because it reveals that leaders often lack answers to every question.

What matters is accepting that we sometimes do not know certain things. We must rely on others who may know more, or who possess comparable knowledge in different areas. Embracing teamwork and collaboration fosters growth both as a leader and as a lifelong learner.

Looking ahead, I'm excited to see the things my peers and I will accomplish, and I cannot wait to see the continual development of where this project will end up and what valuable lessons I will learn through it. I am grateful to everyone who made this opportunity possible. I appreciate seeing multiple facets of mine that I once thought would remain unrelated now converge in a project that will help thousands of people.

As always, please consider staying tuned to the constant updates that will occur throughout my next few weeks.

Gracias por leer,
Hasta Luego!