Mapping Impact

By: Alanna Rivera

Table set up for my pre-birthday / going away party since I will be turning 20 in Rome!

To pour into myself and nurture who I am, I make time to fuel my body with whole foods and move it
through exercise. In a world full of noise and distraction, I turn to the hobbies I love whenever I feel
overwhelmed, things that keep me grounded. I carve out space to bake, read, write, or draw, allowing
myself creative outlets where I can express myself freely.

To show up for my inner circle, I treat others the way I’d want to be treated. I check in on my friends, tell
my family I love them, offer help when it’s needed, and show up when it matters. I try to create spaces
where they can simply exist without pressure, offering a listening ear or advice when asked.

For my community, I give my time to causes close to my heart like Habitat for Humanity, the Alzheimer’s Project, and the Animal Society, places where connection and coming together are essential.

To contribute to the world, I carry my core values of community, gratitude, service, and compassion into everything I do. As I meet people from different places and cultures, I focus not on what I can take but on what I can learn. I travel to understand, to listen, and to connect. I also stay mindful that I am always learning, and I try to approach every interaction with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to grow.

I see each sphere of impact as once you pour into yourself you can then expand and pour into others, You start small with yourself first and then move onto your inner circle, your community and then the world. The treatment that you give yourself is the capacity at which you will treat others. Your inner world reflects your outer world. Taking care of yourself and your needs lays the foundation for extending that same grace and support to others. Through my summer experience, I hope to develop a mindset that balances being alert and present with staying relaxed and trusting that things will fall into place. I tend to get anxious and overthink small details instead of having confidence in the effort I’ve already put in. I know studying abroad will come with its own set of challenges, and I want to learn how to face them with greater ease and trust in myself. I also want to develop a nice routine while in Rome of taking care of my health and wellness,  exploring Rome , trying new things , journaling and also staying on top of my internship tasks, and classes.