WAIP: 1, Comfort Zone: 0

This morning at 9:00am, I found myself wading chest-deep into a muddy swamp. Our WAIP cohort was volunteering at Kenilworth Park and our task was to remove large water plants so that new lotus and lily flowers can be planted in their place. I have always loved spending time in nature, but being immersed in water—murky swamp water, no less—is challenging for me. It’s safe to say that this activity pushed me entirely out of my comfort zone.

As I took my first few steps away from the water’s edge, part of me was desperate to turn back. Solid ground never seemed so wonderful. But after hauling myself to the middle of the pond and getting a few streaks of mud on my face, I began to acclimate. Getting wet became somewhat of a release.

In some ways, this experience is the epitome of what WAIP means to me. Since day one, this program has pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me to grow, both personally and professionally. As a creature of habit who often craves familiarity, I would be lying if I said that WAIP is never challenging. Moving to a new city, living with a large group of strangers, and holding a new internship have all tested me. But facing these uncertainties head-on is giving me a sense of empowerment. I’m certain that I will emerge from this summer more capable and adaptable, and for that I am grateful. 

If my experience with the swamp showed me one thing, it’s that diving in is the best way to expand your comfort zone. At first I waded in but tried to stay as dry as possible. As it turned out, this approach didn’t help me adapt to the water—not whatsoever. I only felt more comfortable after I leaned deep into the water and got splashed several times. Ultimately, I only felt more comfortable once I committed to getting wet. As I spend the remainder of my time in DC, I hope that I can lean in to new experiences as much as possible and savor the growth that comes with stretching myself. 

Above: Our group on our way to Kenilworth, rocking the matching shirts.

Before signing off this post, I want to share a story that came to mind this morning at Kenilworth. We learned that the original owner of the park planted lotus and lily flowers as a small way of spreading beauty. I couldn’t help but think of a book that I loved as a child, Miss Rumphius. The book describes a little girl who aims to do three things in life: travel the world, live by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful. As she grows old, she is moved to plant lupine flowers all over her small town and realizes that this accomplishes her final goal. For the rest of her life, she plants the flowers each year and becomes beloved as the “Lupine Lady.” Hopefully we can all use what we learn from WAIP to make the world a little more beautiful, a little more good. 

- Elizabeth Kleinhenz