When Endings Become Beginnings

The end of the seminar isn’t the end of the journey — it’s a launchpad.

This weekend marked my 12th year volunteering with HOBY Maryland — and with it, the close of another incredible leadership seminar for high school sophomores.

Over four days, these students took their first steps into leadership:
💡 Learning about their personalities and confidence
💡 Working through challenges as a group
💡 Packing thousands of meals for Rise Against Hunger
💡 And creating personal vision boards to reflect on their goals, dreams, and values

That last one? It hit me more than expected.
Listening to participants describe their boards was a reminder of how deeply purpose drives us, even at a young age.

Some included dream jobs, cars, or houses.
Others emphasized connection: family, friends, belonging.
And many aspired to make an impact: in their schools, communities, and the world around them.

It’s a powerful practice, no matter your age.

This weekend also marked a transition for many volunteers.

After three years of steady, intentional leadership, my close friend (and skydiving buddy) Natalie Gaudette wraps up her time as Leadership Seminar Chair. It’s hard to put into words the amount of heart, time, and resilience it takes to lead this program year after year. Natalie went well above and beyond and took the seminar to new heights.

And now, she passes the baton to another exceptional leader: Zainab Mirza. I've watched Zainab lead our Team Alumni with clarity, compassion, and organization. Her commitment to growth, especially in our young volunteers, makes her a perfect fit to carry this work forward.

As for me, this may be the end of my chapter as program co-host… but not the end of my journey. (At some point, I’ll share about how I went from a petrified second grader who could barely speak on stage… to now.)

Whether you're stepping into something new or closing a meaningful chapter, transitions are a powerful moment to pause, reflect, realign, and ask:
What do I want the next chapter to look like?

If you haven’t created a vision board lately, try it.
You don’t need scissors and glue (unless you want to), just 15 quiet minutes and the courage to dream honestly. Revisit your why. Reimagine what’s possible.

Because the end of one thing might just be the beginning of something even better.