When I first arrived in Meru, I didn’t just come as a Volunteer—I came as a student of community, ready to learn. Armed with nothing more than a math set, some big ideas, and a heart full of conviction, I stepped into a world that would teach me resilience, innovation, and the true meaning of leadership.

In the classroom at Kiriene Mixed Day and Girls Boarding School, I saw formulas turn into confidence and geographical sketches awaken curiosity. But it was outside—under the shade of trees, during soap-making sessions and digital literacy workshops—where transformation truly unfolded.

One of my favorite moments? Watching a young mother smile as she held her first batch of homemade soap, ready to sell. It wasn’t just about skills—it was about dignity regained. Or the afternoon we re-calibrated our incubator—after several failed hatching—and finally, a tiny chick cracked through. The village cheered. That wasn’t just poultry—it was proof that persistence births miracles.

Through these months, I learned that service isn’t about delivering solutions—it’s about nurturing possibility. It’s long conversations with elders, students lighting up over circle theorems, and youth crafting CVS after conquering tech anxiety. It’s setbacks that sharpen your spirit and small wins that become legendary.

Now, as I close this chapter, I carry forward these lessons—not as stories in a report, but as seeds for a future rooted in civic leadership and shared progress. Meru gave me more than a platform; it gave me purpose.

And purpose, I’ve learned, is the most powerful kind of math—it multiplies.