A Year of Sparkles and Insights

Editor's Note: This post was originally written shortly after Alexa's launch party earlier this year. Since then, she has successfully transitioned into her new role as Campaign Services Manager at Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

As I walked into a room filled with pink, disco balls, cowboy boots, and a running collage of my favorite moments from the year, I knew my coworkers "got" me. To explain, I was walking into my launch party, which is a tradition when a Fellow completes their tenure at The Patterson Foundation and "launches" into the next step of their career. That's right–I have found my next step! I will join Children's Miracle Network Hospitals as their Campaign Services Manager. Anyone who knows me knows that this is an organization that means a whole lot to me. Their mission of "changing kids' health to change the future" is something I've been committed to for over the last ten years of my life in dance marathon and as a volunteer at Riley Hospital for Children. So, as I excitedly prepare for the next step in my career, I wanted to take time to reflect on my year at The Patterson Foundation.
 
This year was the first time that I had moved outside of my hometown of Indianapolis. Although I knew that Indy was my home (and I even wrote that I was one of Indy's number-one fans in my first blog), I knew I wanted to live somewhere else for a while. This fellowship was an excellent opportunity to do this. Because, as I said in the first sentence, I had the incredible opportunity to work with people who so clearly cared about each other. One of the "TPFisms" is The Five Cs, the first of which is caring. This was not just a saying, but a way of working at TPF. This certainly made the transition to Florida easier. I grew and learned how resilient and adaptable I could be.
 
My fellowship at TPF and learning from some incredibly organized leaders have helped me level up. I had the opportunity to work on twelve different initiatives and consulted on a project with The Selby Foundation. Working on all of these different projects, under the mentorship of many different leaders, strengthened my organizational and project management skills.
 
Additionally, being entrusted with coordinating and planning large scale events, like Study Away and the Philanthropy Southeast CEO Forum, has built my confidence in logistics and event planning. Anticipating potential needs/issues and thinking of extra special ways to make an event sparkle has become second nature.
 
Also, this year, I expanded my skill set and comfort zone with each assignment. One of the notable examples of this was the podcast for Digital Access for All. Being a part of a podcast was something that I could have never imagined doing before this. However, I found that it was both doable and kind of fun. This was an important reminder to be open to new experiences.

Reflecting on the many experiences and lessons from my time at The Patterson Foundation, I'm grateful for the chance to work in such a dynamic environment. The collaboration with different teams provided me with a broader perspective on the nonprofit sector. Each project and event taught me more about the intricacies of strategic planning and the importance of clear communication. I've gained invaluable insights into balancing multiple priorities and continually remaining flexible and adaptable. This will undoubtedly serve me well as I transition into my new role at Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. This year has not only prepared me for my next career chapter but also deepened my appreciation for the impact excellent work can have on communities and individuals–like me.