A Story of Personal Growth at the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce
Before October, I didn’t know what the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce was. With a grant for an internship from NC Works, at the Haywood Chamber, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to gain experience and build up my resume.
What started off as a three-month work experience has transformed into a six-month-long internship. I have gained valuable knowledge and found a passion for leadership and community. With the new knowledge gained, I like to believe I have presented my local chamber with young, fresh ideas that will be implemented in the future, but more importantly, my chamber has taught me a lot about myself.
The president, CeCe Hipps, welcomed me into the office during a global pandemic and our one big festival the chamber hosts every year. I jumped into a world I knew nothing about the week before Haywood County Chamber of Commerce’s Apple Harvest Festival, and I was ready. Consistently, I find myself ready to learn everything I can about this organization and all of the ample benefits it has to offer.
I quickly found myself learning about local businesses, event planning, the importance of connection, and a lot about myself. Having a leader and mentor to teach me to trust myself and my work ethic has been infinitely helpful. She has shown me that my future involves more than waiting tables. I have grown to trust my instincts in my first three months in the office.
Feeling the Grip of a Global Pandemic
Navigating one of my first professional jobs, in a career path I have found to love, during a global pandemic has proven to be challenging. Those challenges provide some of the sweetest rewards. The collaborative aspect of the Chamber is one of the most appealing components of this job. There are frequent morning talks, over coffee, about how to safely meet our member’s needs.
There is a constant worry about whether or not we will be in the office next week or next month. I have chosen to make this experience one of learning and growth. Repeatedly, I find myself having to push harder than I have in previous jobs. I have learned from being immersed in the Chamber world that there is no set way to do anything. We are all figuring this tough situation out and learning and growing from each other.
Importance of Personal Growth
Personal growth is a vital component to achieving the multitude of goals and dreams that I find myself chasing. I transitioned from a pre-pandemic internship at a local tax office to the Chamber. My previous internship treated me with the utmost respect, but I found myself constantly working a switchboard and filing what felt like an infinite amount of paperwork.
My first day at the Chamber involved no filing. Of course, filing is an important component of managing any office. The Haywood Chamber has done an exceptional job giving me the most well-rounded and vital experience. From pulling together loose ends and putting together a festival, to the task of attempting to make contact with almost 400 business members, I see myself growing.
I am growing more confident and I am learning. My education doesn’t stop at learning how to work on new programs to connect with our members and the depths of algorithms for social media. It also extends to our community. I am consistently learning about new businesses and organizations in a community that I realized after joining the Chamber, I knew very little about.
This pandemic has brought so much uncertainty to this nation and to our community in Haywood County, NC. The Chamber has brought me the stability and passion I didn’t know I needed. It takes just one person to give you a chance. I am incredibly grateful to CeCe and NC Works for providing me with an opportunity for growth and self-exploration.
