One particular situation that I remember helping with both in-office relationships, and my own, was the Walk for the Wild that took place in October. Myself, and multiple FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) employees took a drive down to Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge to take a walk through the beautiful wetlands and enjoy what it is we all work so hard to protect every day. Getting to chat with those who I was usually unable to in the office and learn more about what they do and why they do it was an eye opening experience to how even the littlest of tasks can come together in the big picture. 

To create a stronger bond with our in-office mentors, we were also invited to a tour of the Capitol building alongside our mentors. It offered a great space to foster relationship building, as it was a time to talk more personally and enjoy an experience together, rather than through a screen or in an office setting. I got to know so much more about the people I work with and also got to see the inside of a building I had lived so near for my entire life but had never visited!

Project wise, I have found a new love for Excel and am amazed at how much paper there really is in the world! As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, our main goal for the fellowship was digitizing and recording thousands of physical files for Dam Safety, Bridge Safety, and Environmental Compliance. Though the job might sound tedious, I found myself having fun through a lot of it. The project allowed me to learn new things, meet new people, and even read historical files from World War II! 

Now, with fellows furthering their careers, I am working on projects that are helping me build more relationships in the service. I was able to work alongside different departments and assist them with their own records management, and not only that, but I have lined up a detail for the summer months that I can not wait to participate in. Getting to work with HR has been a goal of mine ever since starting the fellowship, and knowing that this shift in projects is coming up in the near future is a great feeling.