SSP has been a genuinely good experience so far, even though it has only been about three weeks. I say that not just to say it, I actually mean it. Having the space to choose how I spend my time and take ownership over it has already taught me a lot about myself. I did not expect to feel this much growth this early, but I can already see it in how I approach each week. I have been consistent across everything, and that consistency has made me feel more confident and more in control of what I am doing.

 

The activity I look forward to most each week is photography with Ms. Bailey-Stewart. Every session, I learn something new like composition, lighting, or how different camera settings can completely change a shot. Then I go out and actually practice it on my own and bring the work back. What I like most is how immediate the process feels. I learn something, I try it, and I can see the results right away. Then we talk about what worked and what did not. Even in just a few weeks, I can tell that my eye is getting sharper. I am starting to notice details I would have missed before, and that has been really satisfying. By the end of the eight weeks, I want to have a collection of photos that clearly shows growth, and right now I feel like I am on a good path toward that.

 

Psychology with Ms. Whitney has been one of the most thought provoking parts of my SSP so far. We have watched Silver Linings Playbook and Split, and the discussions after have been some of the most engaging conversations I have had in a while. Silver Linings Playbook presents bipolar disorder in a way that feels human and complex instead of turning it into a joke or something purely negative. Split is very different, since it dramatizes DID in a way that focuses more on shock value. We spent time talking about how that kind of portrayal can shape how people understand mental health in real life. It made me realize how much media influences perception, even when people do not notice it. Being able to connect movies to real psychological concepts has made the class feel more real and relevant. I am looking forward to continuing these discussions and eventually putting together the final presentation.

Volunteering at the BASE has been grounding in a different way. I mostly help out wherever I am needed and try to be a consistent and reliable presence. Even in a short amount of time, I have realized that just showing up and being dependable actually matters more than I expected. It is not always about doing something big, but about being someone people can count on. That idea has made me think differently about leadership. It feels less about being in charge and more about being steady and trustworthy. That is something I have started to carry with me outside of the BASE as well.

 

Graffiti with ProBlak has been my newest experience, and also the one that has pushed me the most outside of my comfort zone. I have not started painting yet, but I do not feel behind because of that. Instead, I have been learning about the process, the planning behind a piece, and the history and meaning of street art. I went into it thinking graffiti was just something you did, but now I understand that there is a lot of intention behind it. ProBlak has taken the time to explain that, and I think that when I do start creating, my work will be stronger because I understand what I am doing and why. This experience has shown me that slowing down at the beginning can actually make a big difference in the outcome.

 

Soccer has been a good part of my routine through all of this. We are in season now, and balancing practices and games with everything else has been a commitment, but it has also helped me stay focused. It gives me a way to reset and stay active, and it balances out the more reflective parts of my SSP. Being with my teammates and competing regularly has been a good kind of pressure, and I think it has helped me stay more present in everything else I am doing.

 

I also started reading All About Love by bell hooks, and I really like how direct and honest her writing is. She talks about love in a way that focuses on honesty, effort, and accountability, which is not always how people usually think about it. It has made me reflect more on how I show up in my own relationships and how I communicate with people. I did not expect the book to connect so well with the rest of my SSP, but it actually fits in with what I am learning in psychology and even with my service work.

 

Looking back at my planning, I think I did a good job overall. I chose activities that actually mattered to me, and that made everything feel more real. If I regret anything, it would probably be not starting earlier and not fully understanding the process behind each activity from the beginning. Some parts, like graffiti especially, take more time to build into than I expected. It has not messed anything up, but I think if I had given myself more time upfront, I would feel a little more ahead right now.

 

Class meetings, I think it would be nice if there was a little more time to reset and reflect. Everything during SSP moves pretty fast, so having a moment to slow down and actually think about what we have been doing and how it is going could be helpful. Even just having more Sabina Kaba Mentor: Mary Agostinelli open conversation instead of structured stuff would make it feel more useful and less like something separate from the rest of the experience.

 

Overall, even in just three weeks, SSP has given me a strong sense of ownership over my learning. I can already see growth in different areas, as a photographer, as someone thinking more critically about psychology and media, and as a person trying new things. It feels real and not forced, which is what makes it meaningful. I am glad I chose the project I did, and I am excited to see how it continues to develop over the next few weeks.