My time with Horizons at Carolina Day School came to a close on August 31, 2026, with my retirement. As I reflect on my years with the organization, I am filled with gratitude for the countless experiences I have cherished and for the incredibly thoughtful, kind, and dedicated people alongside whom I had the privilege to serve.
The Horizons community truly lives up to its name. It is a community of compassionate, professional people who show up every day to do good in the world. Whatever challenges are encountered, they consistently lead with respect, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to helping children succeed.
I have often said that Horizons is unique in the field of youth development. In nearly 47 years working in out-of-school-time programming, I have never seen anything that compares with the Horizons Summer Academy. Its power comes from the combination of long-term relationships, academic rigor, and joyful enrichment. Families make a nine-year commitment, allowing students to grow within a consistent, caring community. Professional educators provide strong instruction in literacy and math, while swimming, social-emotional learning, and other enrichment experiences make learning engaging and fun. The results are remarkable: students return to school with meaningful academic growth, greater confidence, and a continued love of learning.
My time at Horizons has taught me so much, both professionally and personally. While there are far too many colleagues, supporters, partners, and volunteers to thank individually, I would be remiss if I did not express my deepest appreciation to Executive Director Jenny Tracy and Horizons co-founders Swati Patel and Himanshu Karvir, the team that interviewed and hired me. Of all the organizations and employers I have had the privilege to serve throughout my career, this has been the very best. Their visionary leadership, unwavering integrity, and genuine care for both people and purpose have made Horizons an extraordinary place to work.
I only hope that I have given back a small measure of all that I have received from these remarkable leaders and the many others who have made this journey so meaningful.
To the entire Horizons community, thank you for the opportunity to serve. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly, inspiring me so deeply, and demonstrating every day what is possible when we invest in children and in one another. You embody the belief that has guided this organization from the beginning: "We Believe in the Promise of Opportunity for All Children." It has been an honor to be part of that promise.
Volunteering at Horizons has been a life-changing experience for me and I am so thankful to have done it. Working with these young, amazing children has taught me so much and helped me grow into a better person in so many ways. No matter whether I am aiding the kids in literacy, helping them share with each other, or watching them as they pass their swim tests, there is always an atmosphere of caring and making positive differences that is wonderfully inspiring and touching.
Throughout my life, I have always wanted to help the world around me and make it a better place. So when I learned about Horizons and discovered I could start volunteering in seventh grade, I was very excited – but also nervous – for the opportunity. I had been assigned to the rising first graders and a number of challenges in my first couple of days made my experience draining. As the week continued however, I began connecting more closely with each child and as I got to know and work with each of them, something magical happened and lit up my world. Everything began changing for me as I saw the kids learning and blossoming emotionally and academically, and when they all beamed with joy after reading their first book together, I glimpsed the countless miracles they all were and knew I wanted to do all I could to nurture and assist them.
As that first Summer came to an end, I felt myself filled with emotions and memories. The bond Horizons had formed for me and them was more than a mentor to a student, it was like we had become family. Every child had done so much and grown emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually and I was so proud of all of them and grateful to have been able to play a role in their development. As these hard-working, growing ACORNS became SPROUTS at Horizons’ graduation I cried tears of joy for each of them, for their accomplishments in-and-out of class, and for the year of waiting before I could have the privilege of working with them again.
Looking back now, with another summer having passed and the kids having grown another year older, I find myself reflecting on all the experiences of Horizons, and the ways it has affected me and them. They have learned and grown so much in the time I have known them through this program, and while I have given them my time and knowledge and care, it feels like they have given me something even greater. They gave me the discovery, ability, and joy that is to be found in supporting and helping other people and have shown me meaning in life. I feel anyone could enjoy and benefit from working with Horizons and would recommend it to everyone. For my part, I am full of gratitude to have been a Horizons volunteer and a part of these children' s journeys and hope that I have made and will make many more positive impacts on these students in summers to come.
