Thank You and Goodbye!

It is with a combination of sadness and excitement that I write this farewell blog post to all of you fabulous Reach volunteers. I've been the program assistant with Reach for about a year now and I have learned so much in the position. I have really enjoyed meeting all of you - even if our only interaction was via email!

This is me and my little sister
at the graduation ceremony with Bucky!!

What's next? Currently, my path is pretty clear and open. I've recently accepted an internship with the Four Lakes Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Madison. Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved animals and considered becoming a veterinarian. So I will see if that's still the path for me. I am also thinking of doing a term with a program called Americorps - it's kind of like the Peace Corps, except it tries to solve problems right here in the U.S. rather than abroad.

I will still be around Madison though, so I will probably attend a few Reach socials and hopefully even the banquet at the end of this spring semester! Some of you who have been in the program for over a year will be happy to learn that the former Reach Program Assistant, Maggie Streeten, will be returning to the position in the spring. Maggie spent a year studying abroad and is excited to bring her new knowledge and fresh perspectives to the program.

I wanted to write this blog post mostly just to say "thank you!" to all of you. It has been such a pleasure planning and coordinating events for the Reach program and I have truly appreciated the enthusiasm and energy brought by all of our volunteers. If there is one thing I've learned throughout my time at this university, it's this: things don't work if people don't participate! It seems simple, but it's a huge problem here on campus. So many people see issues and are quick to complain about them. Few actually take steps to corrects those issues. One of our most pressing and important challenges here on campus and throughout the world is overcoming racial and cultural  prejudice. Like anything, our program is not perfect - but with your willingness to volunteer and with your hard work, we come closer to a community where people understand and embrace the differences that make us all unique. Thank you so much for being in Reach and thank you for being a global ambassador. It's hard to take on the responsibility of speaking for your culture - it's something that shouldn't have to be asked of us, but you all do it with grace and the community in which we all live is so grateful for that.

In appreciation and until later,
Kassie