On the day I was deployed to my site, I felt stressed and anxious about being away from my family and friends for some time. However, I was also excited about the opportunity to learn and experience new cultures and to support the process of community change as a facilitator. When I arrived, my host family warmly welcomed me, which made me feel better. The next day, my host mother took me to the market to show me around and buy some relish since it was market day. At the market, many people were asking about me, and some even thought I was my host mother’s daughter-in-law. However, as I explained why I was there, this rumor faded away.

As an introvert, I have always found it difficult to interact with new people and be a part of a new community. I often felt overwhelmed and anxious about whether I would be accepted by others or if my efforts would be futile. However, I realized that to foster collaborative relationships, build on community strength and empowerment, and facilitate community-led development, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and face my fears. It was not an easy journey, but every time I felt the fear creeping in, I took deep breaths and told myself that I could do it. I reminded myself that the unknown and frightening would soon become my new normal. As Robin S. Sharma aptly put it, “As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal”.

Over the last two months, I have had the opportunity to meet and interact with new people, which has been an exhilarating and transformative experience for me. As part of my community involvement, I regularly visit local community members and volunteer at a health center. Through this work, I have had the pleasure of working alongside a diverse group of individuals from both inside and outside of my community, which has broadened my perspective and understanding of the world around me. One particular group I have had the opportunity to work with is the Dzaone Agriculture Club, which is involved in growing a variety of crops and also operates as a village savings and loans group. The members of this group have been incredibly welcoming, hardworking, and dedicated, which has been a huge inspiration to me and has motivated me to become an even greater catalyst for change in my community.

During my pre-service training, we were taught the importance of embracing change and using it as an opportunity for growth, knowledge-building, and self-acceptance. I have taken this lesson to heart and have already seen positive results in my personal and professional development. I am excited to continue on this journey and look forward to the many experiences and opportunities.