Growing Pains: My Gardening Internship Experience

I do not have a green thumb. For an elementary school project, I was tasked with planting flowers and taking photos to prove that I completed the assignment (see image below). My family has had a tomato plant in past summers. I enjoy virtual gardening via Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley. My apartment is full of fake plants, and that's pretty much the extent of my gardening expertise.

In just a few short weeks at Hospitality House, I've learned the difference between weeds, volunteer plants, and purposefully planted vegetables. I've learned to identify several plant species, turn over soil beds, and use a hand Maddock, hoe, and weedeater. I've harvested vegetables that I helped take care of, sweat through multiple pairs of denim shorts, got drenched in a much-needed rainstorm, and raised a group of baby chicks purchased from the tractor supply store. Beyond all of those accomplishments, however, and at the risk of sounding cliche, is perhaps the most valuable thing I have learned in my time at Hospitality House: the value of community.

Throughout my college experience, I have felt very isolated and disconnected from both the student body of App State and the Boone community as a whole. I started college in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, and even after the pandemic ended, I struggled to form close friendships. Ever since I started my internship at Hospitality House, I've seen how valuable it is for the residents and staff members alike to always have people around you, even if you don't necessarily get along with every one of them. The shared living spaces at a homeless shelter might not be most people's ideal living situation, but I think it is much better than facing life alone. The friendships I've formed while interning at Hospitality House and the sense of belonging I feel here are unlike anything I've ever experienced in a job, and I'm so incredibly grateful that I got the opportunity to help make a positive difference in the lives of people who are far less fortunate than I.

As my internship comes to a close, I can say that I am leaving it with a newfound sense of purpose and belonging, along with some gardening skills that I hope to continue to hone in the future. I think I will look back on this experience as a life-changing one, as it has led me to the conclusion that I want to spend the rest of my professional career and personal life helping vulnerable people find the resources and social support they need to lead fulfilling, happy lives.