Hello! My name is Jamaile, and this marks my third and final time serving as an Eco-Digital Storytellers mentor, and what an incredible journey it has been! While it’s truly a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to this remarkable program, the students, and the faculty, I leave with immense gratitude. As someone involved from the very first undergraduate course and mentor position, I’ve had the honor of not just participating, but of witnessing our program grow and flourish, adapting to become even more impactful.
This role has been transformative for me. I stepped into it with shyness and hesitation, but thanks to the unwavering support of the staff at the NRCA, I found my voice. This experience has been the crucible for developing my presentation, of the community that engage in civic action and legislation. Additionally, I communication, and leadership skills while empowering high school students to engage deeply with community issues.
This fall semester, in particular, has been one of my absolute favorites! I guided students in using technical tools, such as thermal imaging cameras and air quality monitors to collect environmental data and translate those findings into compelling narratives. We explored the spectrum of civic action from local campaigns to legislative advocacy and bridged the gap between the classroom and the real world by connecting them to active members brainstormed with them how to potentially utilize animation to communicate processes like the urban heat island effect or a redesign of a public space that can coincide with their stories!
Seeing the students’ creativity flourish has been incredibly rewarding, and they are well-prepared for their spring exhibition. This program also holds a special place in my heart for being a space where my Ecology and Digital Media & Design major blend together to help create these digital projects. And I couldn’t be more proud of the direction the current projects are going. As I close this chapter, I carry with me not just incredible memories, but the confidence and skills I gained here. I am immensely proud of the NRCA community and the brilliant work being done and I hope it continues for a long time.