When I first decided to work at Saint Mary’s Nutrition Center, I was a timid kid. I saw this job as an opportunity to get out there and grow. The program focused on nutrition education and plant farming. We had three supervisors who guided us, five youth workers, through food systems and operating the food pantry. The job quickly became more than that. Many mornings were spent inside the pantry—moving produce from truck deliveries, restocking shelves, and helping visitors find what they needed. Over time, I found myself in conversations. At first, those conversations didn’t come naturally, but I grew more comfortable speaking, listening, and connecting. The people making use of the pantry were not strangers; they were families no different than mine, normal people just like me. I realized that I was part of a community consisting of people just like me. The moment that changed me most was during the community meals. We set them up to invite the whole community and uplift its spirit. A couple people showed, and then more followed. Before long, the room was filled with conversation and joy through a shared meal. That experience reshaped how I think about large scale impact and made me see the potential in community events. Events like community meals make people realize that they are a part of one society. It’s an opportunity to reach people who otherwise would stay home and not interact with people. During a shared meal, I saw barriers lower—people become more open, conversations start more easily, and connections form. People who walked in quietly began talking to others, families stayed longer than we anticipated, and strangers left knowing each other. I saw how something simple could bring people together and change how they interact with the world. As I keep growing, I want to build those spaces in ways that extend beyond a single community; to our whole society. In a space similar to community dinners, we can teach kids about the world in more ways than just nutrition or hard labor. Here, kids can learn to be curious about the world and their neighbors. Qualified adults can talk to the young directly during a shared meal or activity. Young adults can gather to learn about the adult world in ways the school system doesn’t. Credit, taxes, the complex process of going into college; skills and knowledge that many kids miss out on. The common goal of all this would be to make unfamiliar paths feel more accessible. When one kid or teen gains that sense of direction, it reaches further than just them—it influences their friends, family, and future. Lessons learned here—at something like a community center—will reach the future generation and spread widely. In today’s world, many people feel disconnected from those around them, even within their own communities. When people are given a reason to come together, that easily changes. I started that summer as a timid kid, unsure of where to fit or what I could accomplish in the future. The impact I want to cause is for kids who don’t know their direction. They deserve to feel welcomed into their community, where they can learn and grow. Just as my time at that job pushed me to get out in the world, I want to help others step into it with positivity and confidence.