What Did I Do? - For my practicum, I enrolled in one of the courses that were given to us as on option to fulfill our practicum requirement. I chose to enroll in PLCY213 (Foundations of Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation). I attend this class every Tuesday from 3 - 4:45pm. In this class, we learned about the many different aspects of nonprofit leadership, as well as strategic techniques for starting our own. Our weekly homework consists of two to three discussion posts that are based on the current week's readings. We do not have any exams, but we do have papers. Throughout the course of the semester, we had to write two papers about a current societal problem and the solutions that exist. We also had to conduct an interview on a member of an unpaid nonprofit organization (a volunteer), and a member of a paid nonprofit organization. Our class time is typically discussion based, and we get to hear the many different ideas from our peers.
What Did I Learn? - Taking PLCY213 taught me how to become a better volunteer. Throughout our readings, we learned why nonprofits fail to recruit volunteers. One of those reasons was because they do not use their volunteers to their full ability. This taught me that as a volunteer, I have to advocate for myself and ask to do more when I feel as though I am not doing enough. I also learned how to become a better writer. When writing our first problem and solution paper, I lost a few points because my evidence was not clear enough. For example, I did not use enough numbers and percentages when describing the problem and its solutions. My professor (Professor Counts) showed me that it is extremely important to use this statistical data because it shows the reader how effective/non-effective the solutions have been. They also show the reader who is most affected by the problem being discussed.
How Have I Grown as a Leader? - In our second problem and solution paper, I had to propose a solution of my own. The problem I discussed was Food Insecurity. In order to come up with a realistic solution, I had to do research about the solutions that already existed, and see what was working. I decided to come up with a nonprofit organization that focused on supplying various companies with natural grown fruits and vegetables. My logic was that if parents received nutritious items at work for free, they would not have to worry about having enough money to spend on grocery shopping. This paper gave me the opportunity to grow as a leader because it allowed me to "create" a nonprofit organization. I had to come up with a strategic plan, and also talk about setbacks I may encounter. Click on the image below to see what I wrote!
How Have I Grown as a Student? - PLCY213 has allowed me to grow as a student by showing me what I am capable of. Initially, I planned to enroll in a different course for my practicum. Since that course became full, I decided to enroll in PLCY213. I was quite nervous for it at first because I did not think I would be able to come up with a nonprofit organization all on my own. Professor Counts was a very understanding professor who took things one step at a time. He gave us time to learn about nonprofits before we had to create our own. Taking this course showed me that I can excel in many things, not just things that are specifically related to my major.
How Have I Grown as a Professional? - One of our assignments for the semester involved conducting an interview on a volunteer of a nonprofit organization. For this assignment, I had to do research on nonprofit volunteers and use that information to create questions. I created approximately ten questions. I also had to ensure that I was creating questions that could be answered with more than a yes or no. After creating my questions, I conducted a phone interview with one of my mom's coworkers who had experience volunteering with nonprofits. This experience allowed me to grow as a professional because it gave me the opportunity to conduct a real interview. I can use this experience during any interview I have in the future.
How Can I Apply My Experience to My Career Moving Forward? - Moving forward, I know that if I ever want to start a nonprofit organization of my own that I have all of the tools I need. The class readings allowed me to learn what techniques work and what techniques can lead to a slippery slope. Our papers opened my eyes to the many societal problems we have, and ways of how I can make a change towards them. I will also try to volunteer more at nonprofit organizations, and make sure that I am using my full potential.
Plans for the Rest of My Time at UMD: - During my last two years at UMD, I plan to continue to take classes that push me outside of my comfort zone. This will help me find other things I am capable of accomplishing. I also plan to shadow more at dental offices. While I am volunteering, I will remember what I have learned and do my best to make sure I am being used to my full potential.
Post-Graduation Plans: - After graduation, I plan to attend dental school and eventually obtain a profession the field of oral health. I also plan to open up my own practice. Doing this will require many of the same skills that are required to create a nonprofit. I will have to conduct interviews, host fundraisers to raise money, etc. What I have learned in this class will help me fulfill my career goals.
How Will I Incorporate What I Have Learned in PL Into My Job Search? - Overall, my experience at PL has allowed me to become a better leader and individual. By writing papers on leadership styles, societal problems and solutions, and volunteering at places such as the DC Central Kitchen, I have learned how to be an outstanding leader.