Week 2:

What went well? 

My interviews with rural students went well. I really enjoyed getting to talk to each student about their experiences with both secondary and postsecondary education. These interviews gave me excellent insight into what resources and information would be useful for students and teachers in my toolkit. 

What could have been done differently?

It was kind of hard to find students to participate in interviews because high schools are now wrapping up the academic year. I initially tried to reach out to RSC’s partner organizations, with little success. Because of this, I was forced to rely on my personal network and Georgetown’s Small Town/Rural Cooperative to identify interview participants. 

What did I learn about myself while working with others?

I learned that I really enjoy learning about people’s upbringing and rural communities. I think that rural areas have a unique focus on schools and the sense of community they bring. I loved delving into the unique circumstances of each interviewee’s hometown. 

What did I learn about leadership?

I learned the importance of not asking leading questions in interviews. In these settings, you hold an informal leadership role. As such, it’s important to not have an undue influence on the content of the interviewees' answers that may skew the results.  

What do I want to develop or focus on next?

I want to focus more on how to apply this data to substantive feedback and solutions for rural students and teachers.