The first story I wrote at Solve Education! wasn’t mine.
It was about one of our beneficiaries.
When I first joined Solve Education!, I was part of the Marketing Communications team. I learned about our programs through conversations with colleagues, impact reports, photos, and sometimes directly from the beneficiaries themselves. My role was to turn those experiences into blog articles or content that helped others understand the work Solve Education! was doing.
At that point, this was the side of Solve I knew best. I saw the outcomes of our work, the smiles, the achievements, and the positive changes our programs created. Every article and every update reflected something meaningful that had already happened.
A few months later, an opportunity came up for me to join the Program team. I didn’t know it then, but it would completely change how I looked at the stories I used to write.
Seeing the Same Mission from a Different Perspective
My first thought was, Can I really do this?
Writing had always felt familiar to me. Coordinating activities, communicating with communities, supporting programs, and interacting directly with participants felt like stepping into something completely different.
As I settled into the role, I realized I wasn’t stepping into a different mission. I was simply seeing the same mission from another perspective.
My days started to look very different. Instead of turning program updates into content, I was helping make those activities happen. I worked closely with communities and participants to support programs from planning to execution, helping ensure each activity ran smoothly and stayed aligned with its goals.
It also gave me the chance to see how much happens before a program reaches the people it’s meant to serve.
My COO often says that behind everything done well is a kitchen people never see. There are conversations, preparation, problem-solving, and sometimes last-minute changes happening all at once. But none of that is meant to be visible. What matters is the experience people have in the end.
That comparison stayed with me. The more I worked on different activities, the more I saw how much happened behind the scenes. There were plenty of moving parts, but our goal stayed the same: making sure our partners, communities, and beneficiaries had the best possible experience.
Learning from the People Behind the Programs
The work was interesting, but the people were what stayed with me.
One experience I still think about is working with people with disabilities.
Before meeting them, I worried that I wouldn’t know how to communicate well. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing or not understanding their needs.
Those worries disappeared pretty quickly.
They were excited to learn, open in expressing themselves, and incredibly patient with me. When I met members of the Deaf community, I couldn’t communicate using sign language. Instead of letting that become a barrier, they patiently found different ways to explain things until we understood each other.
I left realizing I had learned just as much. Sometimes, creating an inclusive learning experience isn’t about knowing exactly what to do from the beginning. It’s about being willing to listen, adapt, and learn together.
Working with young people gave me a similar feeling. Whether during activities or community engagements, they were curious, eager to ask questions, and genuinely excited to learn. Seeing that enthusiasm reminded me why creating learning opportunities matters in the first place. It also reminded me that meaningful learning isn’t just about sharing information. It’s about creating an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions, exploring new ideas, and continuing to learn.
Being part of the Program team also helped me understand that our work isn’t just about running activities. Every activity is designed to create opportunities for people to build knowledge, confidence, and skills they can carry beyond the program itself.
More Than I Expected
Before joining the Program team, I didn’t think I was someone who enjoyed interacting with lots of different people.
Turns out, I actually do.
One of my favorite parts of the role is meeting our beneficiaries. I enjoy talking with them, hearing their stories, and seeing their excitement as they learn. Those moments remind me that the work happening behind the scenes eventually becomes something real for the people we serve.
Somewhere along the way, I also became more comfortable stepping into situations that used to feel unfamiliar. Not because I suddenly know everything, but because I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask questions, stay curious, and learn as I go.
Looking back, I think that’s something working in programs naturally teaches you. Every community is different, every partner has different needs, and every activity comes with its own challenges. There’s no perfect formula. Sometimes the best thing you can do is keep listening, keep adapting, and keep moving forward together.
I’m glad I had the chance to experience both roles.
Not because one was more important than the other, but because each helped me appreciate the other a little more.
Seeing the Whole Picture
Experiencing both roles gave me a deeper appreciation for how closely they work together. One focuses on creating meaningful learning experiences, while the other helps those experiences reach more people.
Different responsibilities, but the same purpose.
There are still days when my schedule is filled with meetings, follow-ups, and unexpected tasks. On those days, it’s easy to focus only on what’s left to finish.
What keeps me going isn’t the checklist.
It’s remembering the beneficiaries I’ve met, the young people eager to learn, and the communities that welcomed us.
They remind me that every email, every meeting, every conversation, and every small task contributes to something much bigger than itself.
The first story I wrote at Solve Education! wasn’t mine.
I’m glad it wasn’t.
Because it allowed me to see something I probably wouldn’t have understood otherwise.
Behind every impact, there is a process.
And behind every process are people who care enough to keep showing up, working together, and believing that learning can open new opportunities for someone else.