Uncertainty/Project Update _ Grace Herman

March 15th, 2020.

In my last journal reflection, I talked about how Terraza was reaching an end. I was under the impression that Terraza would phase out and that would be the end. And honestly, I was kind of okay with that. But now things are different! We had a team meeting on the 12th and I feel that we are back and headed in a more positive/sustainable direction.

To me, the biggest point of Terraza is to bring teenagers together in a positive/ safe environment and we can technically still do that without a physical space and this is how we plan to do it.

1. We will plan fun events once a month. Things like scavenger hunts, dodgeball tournaments, glow in the dark capture the flag, etc.
2. We want to create a platform, most likely a website, that serves as a funnel for service projects in the area. Most teenagers need community service hours for school and we could create an accessible platform where people, teenagers, can find places to serve. Additionally La Paz CAS students could put requests for volunteers on the website and students looking for ways to volunteer could connect with them and help their project.

There has been a mindset shift in the team and in me. We/I want to continue to stay committed to this project to continue to preserve to create something. I feel that now we have a blank slate and it’s up to us to make something better and more sustainable with this chance.

This change in this project ties in with the current state of the world. Everything is uncertain do the spread of the Corona Virus. It’s causing change across the world. It’s a saying the only certainty in life is change. This has definitely been true in my CAS experience, I mean look at where Terraza is now. This makes me question, am I properly prepared for the uncertainty into which you project is surely headed?

You’ve heard it said many times: the only certainty in life is change. This is particularly true in CAS. Are you properly prepared for the uncertainty into which my project is surely headed?

The real answer is no. Over this journey, through CAS I have not been properly prepared for uncertainty. I have wanted to jump from a project when things become uncertain. I like to have control and this new phase in our project, though not related to COVID 19, presents a lot of uncertainty and minimal control.

Some risks that this project is currently facing are losing Ashley as the leader, losing team members and losing funding for the project. It is probable that Ashley stops putting effort into the project as I believe it will soon no longer be her job. If this happens it will impact the direction and overall commitment to the project of the entire team. To help minimize the risk we need to keep a positive momentum to keep motivation high. And support Ashley while she works to find other sources of income. If we lose team members this will hinder the motivation towards to project. Again to minimize this risk we need to stay committed, keep positive momentum, and regain a higher sense of purpose and direction. It is highly probable that we lose funding for this project. We can not necessarily prevent this from happening but we can do things to minimize the risk we face when this happens. We can shift the project so it seems less like a job for Ashley and we can make the project less dependent on outside funding. We have already started this process.

On top of these measures an article by John Boitnott titled “4 Ways to Prepare for Uncertainty in Business” outlines ways to prepare for the future in a business/project. Since we are in uncertain times and since Terraza is shifting greatly this 4 ways could be helpful.

1. Boitnott says to stay in the now. We must be aware of trends. For example, the skatepark is a trend in Tamarindo right now. So if we are aware of that we can use the popularity of it to grow our project.
2. To prepare for multiple outcomes. There are two possible outcomes for the new changes that I foresee. 1) The website could be a hit and it could cause a blooming of service projects in the community. If this happens we could continue to expand to other areas of Costa Rica. 2) No one could use the website and it becomes irrelevant. Then we use social media to publish it and reach out to schools and organizations to get their students involved.
3. Constantly Review. I need to come up with possible outcomes and every step.
4. Create a solid relationship. We need to create a solid relationship between the group because there are many benefits of working collaboratively. Plus the only way this project can work is if we work to collaborate. Similarly, we need to create a solid relationship with businesses and schools. This has been a challenge for our team in the past. Now with this second chance, we need to focus on this and become more consistent and dependable in our relationships with businesses.

These are the methods I will continue to use to push this project back onto a positive route. We are facing uncertainty but uncertainty will hopefully lead us to positive change, which is what this project has desperately needed.

Thanks for reading,

Grace

* Identify strengths and areas for growth, Show perseverance and commitment to your project, Work collaboratively with others, Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.