Hello everyone! I’m writing this from the newly opened ASP Appalachian Highlands Volunteer and Training Center, and I am so excited to call this homebase for the rest of the summer. Living alongside the Washington County staff has been amazing, and I know that we are all very thankful to be in our new home.
This past week has been the most eventful, fulfilling, and fun time of my work so far. Between spending time with the staff in Johnson County, Tennessee, taking my first day off to go camping with coworkers, and helping the crew move into the Highland Center, I have felt engulfed in the busy schedule that encapsulates the ASP work life.
One of the biggest takeaways I have from this week is the unreal sense of community and belonging I have felt from ASP. As a story gathering intern, we don’t belong to any certain staff or county. I thought that it may have been hard to form strong connections when traveling from county to county. I was scared that as we travelled to different counties, we would get in their way, or take up their space against their liking. I was totally wrong. Every county we have been to has welcomed us so graciously, made us feel at home, and included us in all of their activities. Expanding on that, the volunteers, and every higher-up at ASP I have interacted with has been eager to meet me, and some even knew who I was before meeting me.
As someone who tends to stay quite reserved and quiet, it is an absolutely wonderful feeling when I am instantly welcomed and involved with a group of new people. Everyone I see treats me as if we were long-time friends. Every invite to a staff dinner, outing, off-day adventure, or even just riding along on runs has been so heartwarming. I leave every county wishing to go back.
As the summer goes on, these experiences have made me so thankful that I decided to come to work with ASP. I truly feel like I belong here, and everyone has made their kindness so apparent. I am more than excited to venture out and visit as many staffs as I can, and strengthen the bonds that ASP has given me. There is nothing better than waking up and being so excited to spend the work day surrounded by my friends.
See you next week,
Jaxson Gage
Story Gathering Intern
