Camille Smith, Week 1

Hi, everyone! My name is Camille Smith, and I'm a rising senior majoring in psychology and English. I hail from Birmingham, Alabama (Roll Tide… just kidding. I actually know nothing about football) where I’ve lived all my life and every summer since I’ve been at Rhodes. I’m so excited to experience my first Memphis summer as well as gain a greater understanding of this city’s community outside of Rhodes and Midtown.

My fellowship is taking place at Agape Child and Family Services where I’ll be working with one of their programs called Powerlines Community Network. The program aims to connect with under-resourced areas of the city, specifically, in apartment complexes in the Hickory Hills, Whitehaven, and Raleigh/Frayser districts. My main project this summer will be launching the summer camp for the kids at Wingood Apartments in Hickory Hill, teaching the students and supervising a small group of high school interns. I’m also collaborating with another fellow (shout out to Breanna!) to launch a reading program for the summer that will hopefully be implemented at multiple sites. This past week, I’ve been working at the office site attending orientation classes and taking CPR and self-defense training. We’ve also been planning the reading program that I’m excited to get started this week when summer camp begins.

My decision to choose Agape as my service site did not come easily. When I first began thinking about the fellowship, I researched multiple sites that I was interested in working with, had two interviews with service sites that were not good fits, and experienced the whole “what do I want to do with my life?!” mini existential crisis. During the midst of my Search for the Service Site, Sandi George Tracy told me about Agape. After meeting with my supervisor, I knew this organization’s mission to provide stable environments for children and families through adoption services, counseling, and the Powerlines Community Network program was something I aligned with. Although I’m not entirely sure of my career path post-graduation, I do know that I’d love to work with people. I’m hoping that my work with Agape will allow me to gain teaching skills as well as develop relationships with the kids at the camp and the other interns. Further, I’m hoping that we’ll all learn from each other throughout the camp—the same hope that I have for our group of fellows.

Happy second week of service!