As we prepared for the event, it felt as though I had jumped in the middle of a great swirling vortex of excitement and urgency. It was disconcerting, but equally thrilling. Not everyone gets to start an internship with an organization in the middle of such a great change. I got ready, trying to help where I fit in. Faster than I’m sure anyone anticipated, the clock reached four, and people began to trickle in.

For most of the three hours, I tried to walk around with purpose, despite my newly appointed position. I spoke to a couple of people including the poet of Writing the Land: Virginia, Gwyn R.C. Moses. I’m looking forward to reading it! I am not a very big talker, so a lot of my time was spent watching other people, taking pictures, and enjoying hummus at the food table. Like most people my age, I felt like a kid at an adults– only club. Only, I’m an adult too.

The most striking part of everything, and my favorite part, personally, was the short gathering outside for the presentation of awards and recognitions. Despite already having read the FOLAR mission statement, it’s another thing to see the people behind it, beyond staff. Delight was in the air as the large group walked up and cut the ribbon to “officially” open the new building to the public. A strange pride flooded my chest as this happened. How could I feel proud for people that I didn’t even know. I don’t know, but I was.

After the ribbon cutting, five honorees were awarded for different reasons. I took several photos of everything, more to commemorate the event for myself. Hearing about the experiences and events that led up to the selection of the honorees earning these awards made me feel that much more respect for them and for FOLAR itself.

When you are near such feelings, it’s impossible not to feel that you are on the cusp of something great – that you are doing something worthwhile. I suspect that this feeling will follow me throughout my work with FOLAR.”