Hey, hi, hello! What it do, tSB Fam?!
Welcome to the first blog in my NEW series… Elaine’s Edge!
In case you didn’t guess, Elaine is me!
(*crowd goes wild)
If you’re wondering where the rest of the blog series title comes from, let me explain! The idea of ‘Elaine’s Edge’ incorporates a lot of hidden meanings. First let’s unpack the ‘Edge,’ in Elaine’s Edge. It does refer to tSB’s motto: “push your growing edge,” but it’s also an alternative to the blogs that are named “— corner.” It can also have the snowboard term of catching an edge (though I’m not sure if that’s a good thing), and last but not least, a literal edge. Now, edges can be seen as a really high point or a jumping/breaking point, so with this blog I’d like to showcase my time in tSB through its highs, lows, good, bad, all that good stuff in the most authentic way possible. Through these blogs, I’d like to show more of the leader in me that tSB played a big role in bringing out of hiding.
That being said, I’d like to tell you why I think tSB is so important. I’ve already given a couple of reasons as to why tSB is so essential and how it has really impacted me, but just to reiterate, tSB has opened my eyes to so many new things.
Before tSB…. Well, I was a little lost. Once I joined tSB, I felt like I was somewhere that I was valued, and somewhere that I was wanted. Sure it took me a few program nights to feel like this, but tSB gave me a reason to keep showing up. I learned more than I thought I would about social/environmental justice and found an interest in finding ways to help people through different injustices.
I think this is such a big part of why tSB is so essential for my peers and I, putting aside the hours that you can get, the education that you get, the snowboarding- you find a cohort of people that really brings out the best in you. I can say this time and time again, but when you find that place where you thrive with other people who build up and make you feel empowered, it’s life-changing. That was tSB for me.
Anyhoo, thank you for reading! And remember, this doesn’t have to be a one-person show! Let me know what you think of my blog title, posts or topics that I cover in the tSB world by emailing me at developmentintern@theserviceboard.org. I want to hear from you!
tSBe the change!
– Elaine (she/her)
