I Have Never Been a Part of a Program Similar to NPI
I have never been a part of a program similar to NPI; no other class compares to the excitement, real world experience, and sense of fulfilment I have already gotten from NPI. Getting to explore East San Jose, a place that was once very foreign to me, and interact with members of the community, whether it be students, workers, or business owners, makes me thrilled to go on field trips with the class and then share our experiences in the classroom. Hearing people’s stories from a community that I have never lived in is fascinating, and I feel as though I am already getting an understanding of the city’s dynamic after these five short weeks in the program. In return, getting to know a wide variety of people has caused me to pause and self-reflect, and through that I am discovering new things about myself as well.
I think the coolest aspect of NPI, for me anyway, is the fact that I get to act almost as a business owner. Earlier this week, my team and I had dinner with Henry, the owner and only employee of Green Bay Hauling. After getting to know each other for a while, we got down to business. Henry started telling us the logistics of his business and some of the numbers he is dealing with as far as costs and revenue go. Then we started brainstorming some strategies for the near future to help Henry gain more customers and set a solid foundation that he could build a large company on. The relationship we developed was not necessarily student to adult, or employee to boss, but rather it was as if we were partnering with him in owning this business and all working together for the good of the company.
Unlike other classes I have taken where I feel as if I am doing busy work or practice for the real world, doing work for NPI feels very purposeful. After meeting Henry and seeing the way in which my team can have a real positive impact on his business career and his life, not only am I more motivated to do my best work, but I got a sense of fulfilment that I am actively doing something to better someone's life as well as the good of the community. My experience in NPI has been unique in so many good ways, and I eager to see how the rest of my time in the program will pan out and what other things I will learn.