When I was asked to write this final blog post, I had already been thinking about it weeks before. I knew from the very first day I started working here that I was going to dread the day I leave, and I knew I would have to write about it. But now that the day is upon me, I fear words may fail to express the range of my thoughts and emotions – there is just so much to say!
But to start, these last two months have been filled with some of the most enriching moments in my life.
Because of this internship, I was given the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the most influential people in education, people who have done so much to change the way we teach the students of this nation. And each time I heard about their accomplishments and what they are striving to do, I was left in awe that I was even able to converse with them, let alone stand in the same room as them! I have been humbled more times than I can count.
Because of this internship, I learned to better value my own talents and abilities, and to not take for granted what others see as worthwhile. We all have our own unique gifts, strengths, and weaknesses that shape who we are, and this internship has allowed me to reevaluate who I am.
Because of this internship, I have made new friendships that I will never, ever forget, and it has helped me strengthen my ties to existing ones.
Because of this internship, and the people of Laying the Foundation/National Math and Science, I have been blessed with one of the best summers of my life. I will always remember the work that I have done here, and the work that the people at this organization do every single day.
And to those people, I would like to say this: Never forget why you are here. Never forget what you are doing. You are changing lives. With every lesson that you compile, with every teacher that you train, with every spreadsheet that you update, you are contributing to the change that our public education system so desperately needs. Your work touches the lives of students and teachers across the nation. You are laying the foundation for change and success. Take pride in that, and continue to strive for excellence. You are all amazing people, and you have my deepest thanks and admiration for all that you do.
I would also like to specifically thank my boss/coworkers, Kaci Schack and Sarah Jensen, for all the encouragement and support they have given me this summer. They have helped me every step of the way, even if that meant letting me run on my own, and their many words of wisdom will never be forgotten.
As for what I will be doing now that my summer is over, in one week I will begin my pursuit of an English degree at Texas A&M University in Commerce. I am extremely excited to embark this new adventure (this will be my first semester at a true university) and I am looking forward to all of the reading and writing that I will be doing (in one course alone, I have to read five different novels outside of the textbook). It is going to be a lot of work, a lot of fun, and I cannot wait to start.
Until we meet again, everyone!
Best wishes,
~Timothy Huneycutt