Blastoff in 3… 2…
“I know I’m not an ordinary 10-year old kid” Auggie Pullman says in the opening scene of the 2017 book adaptation of Wonder, but it’s a good thing, since we all know ordinary isn’t nearly as exciting as extraordinary.
Coming into my second semester of my freshman year of college, I feel like I’m on top of things. I went through the ringer of time-management realizations the first semester, almost certain half of the times I was sick were from stress. Re-entering the arena, I’ve reevaluated my degree once again, and redistributed my time accordingly. I’m no longer giving tours at IWU, but the choice to open up my schedule led to it being filled right away with a new, incredible opportunity:
WonderSpace
How I learned about WonderSpace is the coincidence of my life. I made a spaceship based on childhood wonder and won People’s Choice at a runway show, after which a random Dad tapped me on the shoulder and asked about my helmet. Then from him I heard about wonder space… What are the odds…? I’m shook.
WonderSpace turns out to be practically on IWU’s campus, operating out of College Wesleyan Church as part of their community outreach. It’s an organization that offers three services: WonderSpace BLUE for grief groups, WonderSpace EDU for child literacy, and WonderSpace PLAY (what I get to be involved in) for constructive play.
In their play space, WonderSpace has a cardboard city, and during their playdates they have a “Cardboard Construction Zone” for families and kiddos (PreK-4th grade) to build/play in. So of course, that is what I gravitated towards, and what the staff noticed my aptitude for.
Through a generally informal interview process (I suppose I proved my people skills in conversations and cardboard skills at the Runway show and on my website) I’m now employed!
I will therefore be helping facilitate the Cardboard Construction Zone at future Saturday PLAY Dates, contributing some foundational pieces at themed events like February 2025’s “Ready, Set, Launch!” day. And most excitingly, I will be teaching workshops each Monday from 5:30-7pm for a newly organized “Cardboard Club” targeting 8-14 year olds in the community who would like to extend their creativity with cardboard! (The only way to come CLOSE to understanding my excitement is to be near me in person as I gush about the possibilities and a smile widens past my ears) This Club will hopefully foster a community of young creatives who can share my enthusiasm about cardboard and its malleability, affordability, and environmental ability. Unlike one-off workshops, this group will emphasize collaboration, and working together from week-to-week, growing as a club spanning a 6-year age range, more than just individuals. This is a potential 3-year project, since I still have more college left, and WonderSpace isn’t going anywhere. Through this group I will be able to grow tremendously as an educator, communicator, and artist. The potential is extraordinary.
I’ve also made strides towards considering career paths. I’m currently looking into “Internal Communications Specialist” positions, and noticing what seems to my like a match of interest. ‘Organizing and managing a large group of individuals for a common goal, utilizing newsletters and mass-communication software.’ It would allow for remote work, which may permit me to pursue the lifestyle I’ve currently dreamed up. I can always do art on the side, and evolve this website as I grow. I’m finding ways to throw communications principles in here already, maybe one day there will be a post without mentioning art… (but then I’d have to be TRYING not to mention it, since art is everywhere.)
There are ideas brewing… now we have to wait and watch what sticks.
