The Versatility of the LtN Experience: Rachel Ziemba
With my return to school rapidly approaching, I can confidently look back and say, what an awesome summer! I luckily got to spend June and July working for LtN in the sweaty yet beautiful Bocas. Seeing LtN’s Panama presence turn just one year old, my fellow interns and I were all reminded of both the progress that had been made in such short time and the great potential to grow that still remained.
Taking this potential as inspiration for action, we all divvied up the many things we hoped to accomplish in order to leave LtN Panama a little better than we found it and got to work. I took the lead on analyzing and reorganizing LtN’s metrics and evaluation methods in place for Nicaragua programs. In addition, I developed a similar system for Bocas, something that had yet to materialize due to the growing nature of our programs there.
Working in a foreign country for a small non-profit with a relatively new presence in the area, this summer proved to be equally as challenging as valuable. I learned to navigate working with limited resources, mastering the art of improvisation and problem solving. Cultivating genuine trust with the local community by immersing myself wholeheartedly also required me to take a few worthwhile steps outside my comfort zone.
“For a Biology major with aspirations to become a physician one day, what struck me most about my time with LtN was how I will be able to transfer all that I learned to my academic discipline and intended career path."
For a Biology major with aspirations to become a physician one day, what struck me most about my time with LtN was how I will be able to transfer all that I learned to my academic discipline and intended career path. While the actual work I do will change one day, it will do so in name only, as the principles that govern working to improve the lives of others using creative, modest methods and solutions will remain the same. Similarly, I know one day I’ll be able to point to my experience connecting with the players and parents of Bocas as a strong foundation for the ability to establish honest, natural relationships with patients and families.
While interning with LtN this summer, I learned to make the most of the available resources to maximize the benefit of my presence anywhere for whomever I may serve. My biggest dream for the future is to be able to care for people in the greatest need, and I’m grateful to LtN for giving me the tools to accomplish my dreams. I sincerely hope that one day I may be able to use my newly-minted background in a small, international non-profit organization to work for a humanitarian cause and help make the world a better place.
As a final sendoff I must say THANK YOU to LtN for an amazing and valuable summer. I will forever carry with me the countless lessons learned in Bocas.
Dedicated Dudes
What’s better than two young dudes that love lacrosse showing up every day to practice, smiling and always wanting to learn new tricks? As a coach, not much that’s for sure! Over the past two months, I’ve gotten to watch the eager and positive dedication of two of our players, Arcelio and Jose, shine through. The fact that they’re fun to hang out with, talented, and good friends are all just added bonuses. Their can-do attitudes deserve some recognition so let me tell you a little bit more about these two dedicated dudes…
Arcelio is in 8th grade and actually lives right across the street from our field. This may partially explain why he’s always earlier to practice than I am - yes, I often find him there waiting for me - rain or shine. And he always wants more. One day, I strolled up to the field wearing my raincoat and said to him, “A mí no me gusta cuando está lloviendo” (“I don’t like when it rains”). Expecting him to agree with me, I was only half surprised when he simply shrugged his shoulders, scooped up the ball I’d put out and threw a fake in my direction eager to play. As I said, he always wants more… more shooting, more games, more stick tricks… more, more, more.
Arcelio’s hunger to learn is evident. Trying out new dodges, passes, and shots are high on his list of his favorite 10 am activities. And he is never afraid to make a mistake. If I throw him a behind-the-back pass, he tries to imitate it. Over and over again he will continue to make the pass until he’s got it down - well, at least most of the way :) Lacrosse has become a place for Arcelio to really express himself. You may not have guessed by my gushings of him this far, but Arcelio is extremely quiet. In our time getting to know one another, I’ve seen him take on a new confidence in practices - from his contagious chuckle after I mess up my Spanish to the “already??” he throws at me if I say our time is up for the day.
Arcelio‘s dedication to the sport, to his personal improvement and to his team culminated in a huge success for him last week! He earned his own stick! His commitment, hard work and positive attitude have resulted in a well-deserved reward. His next challenge: keep track of his stick, take care of it and keep coming to practice!
Jose, who is in 4th grade and comes to our afternoon practices, certainly knows a few things about stick responsibility, smiles and shooting. As one of the first boys to start coming to our programs nearly a year ago, Jose has put in maximum effort since the very beginning. He says that lacrosse has taught him “how to leave it all on the field” and to try his hardest. Not a practice goes by where he isn’t “cansado” (“tired”) by the end, shouting for a give-and-go multiple times over, and trying his best to have his team win the relay races. Though he admittedly enjoys offense and scoring goals more than running back down the field to play defense, he understands that you must execute both to be a good player. His answer when you ask the players, “What did you like about today’s practice?” is nearly always the same: “me gustaba ganar y perder” (“I liked winning and losing”). This understanding of the game and what it means to be a part of a team at such a young age is inspiring to his teammates as well as to me as a coach! It’s awesome! And, like Arcelio, because of his dedication, Jose has earned the privilege of having his own stick. He chose a sweet black and red one… clearly he has great taste, too.
But, the thing about Jose that really makes him such an enjoyable player is that he’s a giving teammate. Whether its giving a gentle pass to a teammate who is still developing her catching skills or giving his time to explain a drill to a confused friend, Jose brings his teammates along with him. And, he does it with a smile plastered on his nine-year-old face. From the moment he arrives at practice to the moment he leaves to go play with other friends, Jose is smiling, laughing and cheering.
So, way to go Arcelio and Jose! The dedication of these two amazing dudes is helping to enhance our programs here in Bocas and to make them as fun for the kids as possible. Knowing that the sport of lacrosse is impacting their behaviors and seeing how happy it makes them is the best reward a coach could ask for. Keep up the hard work!
— Maria, Panama PD
A Farewell for Now
Bocas is a special place, and Program Director Caroline Rath is no doubt a very special person! Over the past year, Caroline has spearheaded the development of a brand new LtN site. This is no simple task - each day Caroline consciously worked to build relationships by getting involved in the community, spreading the word about our programs and thinking critically about community needs... all the while living in a new country with a new language. This was nothing short of a daunting set of tasks when Caroline first arrived last July! However, looking back on her time in Bocas, it is an experience that Caroline explains has been so valuable, rewarding and absolutely life-changing for her.
My name is Maria and I am the newest Program Director of LtN’s Panama site. Through my studies and my short time here in Bocas, I have observed that it takes a particular skill set to spearhead international development work. Every day Caroline wears a smile and brings her ambitious, can-do attitude to any and all situations. Whether tackling a new programmatic obstacle or accomplishing a goal, a part of the job is learning and adapting almost every minute of each day. As Caroline wraps up her volunteer year with LtN, I have been lucky enough to have this opportunity to learn from her hard work, say goodbye, and most importantly say thank you to the young woman who has filled every day in Bocas with laughter and lessons.
Having only arrived in Bocas 4 weeks ago as Caroline’s future replacement, I was admittedly just as nervous as I was excited for all that was to come. Since then, I have realized that I could not have asked for a better, more fun and responsible person to help me transition into the role of Program Director for LtN in Bocas. The advice, reassurance and encouragement that she has instilled in me and LtN’s summer interns since our arrival are unparalleled. From patiently listening to me try to speak Spanish to the kids at practice to pushing me to meet as many locals as possible in order to expand our network, Caroline has opened my eyes to the ins and outs of living and working in Bocas. Its not surprising that the achievements she has made here for LtN’s programs over the past year are reflective of her calmness, constant laughter and impressive work ethic.
While this entry cannot fully express the appreciation myself and our family in Bocas have for Caroline and her work, , I am hopeful that these words of gratitude are a strong start. Ironically, that is the mark that Caroline has left us here with: a strong start. There is a saying that goes, “nothing worth having ever comes easy.” Running successful programs, creating lasting relationships and influencing lives takes a lot of determined work. But, Caroline has put in that work and shown me just how worthwhile the effort is.
Indeed, Bocas may run on “island time” and the people have different ideas around the “necessities” in life, but Caroline and the Bocas community have all experienced the fruits of her labor, and our team has thrived over this past month because of her guidance. From her I have already learned so much. Ultimately, nothing beats the feeling of seeing a young laxer gain a new skill or earn their very own stick; watching children finally work together to score a goal or to understand that mistakes are simply part of learning; or even discovering the beauty of a life defined by simplicity.I could not be more grateful to Caroline for what she has taught me and without her hard work, willing personality and ability to dive head on into challenges, LtN in Bocas would not have developed to where it is now. So, once more, thank you, Caroline. Your Bocas Family and I cannot wait for you to come back and visit!
— Maria M.