Wow!  I am sitting here reflecting on 2022!  It’s been a year filled with so much learning and personal growth for me.  I literally went from a very basic level of knowledge around the Native American history of South Carolina to a much more expanded view and understanding.  In April of 2022, I began by volunteering at the Native American Studies Center of USC Lancaster through an archeological dig and the rest was history.  I have met so many new friends and faces through the archeology labs and volunteering on the Catawba Nation.  I now go to events and actually KNOW people in the community and give hugs and warm handshakes.  I met two tribal chiefs (both Catawba and Cherokee/Iroquois).   Being even a small part of the community is really heart-warming and rewarding for me.

I also founded my NPO, the Sage Project in October of 2022.  We were able to raise community awareness during Native American History month this past November.  We also started collecting donations through the NPO’s website and in person.  In tandem with founding the Sage Project, I founded the first-ever Anthropology Club at my high school (Charlotte Catholic High School).  In partnership with the Sage Project, the CCHS Anthropology Club was able to sponsor a child through the “Tree of Good Spirit” initiative at the Catawba Nation.  We are planning to continue our fund-raising efforts for 2023.  We hope that our partnership will enable us to sponsor several children and possibly even an entire family for the Holidays in 2023.  It is exciting to plan for the future and I cannot wait to see how large our community impact will be for 2023.

In addition to the NPO and volunteerism, I completed Virtual NSLI-Y for Arabic during the fall of 2022.  Developing even a basic understanding of the language and culture was rewarding.  I hope to continue my language study through NSLI-Y Abroad.

I still have a TON of work to do and much good to accomplish.  However, as I take a moment to reflect on where 2022 began and ended, it is pretty amazing and rewarding.  I am humbled by how little I know, but I have truly enjoyed the journey and look forward to the months and years to come.  It is my hope that reflecting on 2023 will be even more mind-blowing, not only in terms of goals reached, but how much more diverse my knowledge base becomes.  

2022, you have been a wild ride!