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When I entered my junior year of high school, I had barely heard of parks and recreation, much less considered it a possible career choice. I wanted to be a veterinarian. I considered farming. I thought about wildlife management. I researched environmental conservation.

The idea of recreation centers, programming and special events were foreign concepts. My family had never really participated in county programs, so I lacked a frame of reference. Of course, I had seen the famous television show, but everyone knows that television exaggerates to gain viewers.

Serendipity led me to Henry County (Georgia) Parks and Recreation. My work-based learning instructor told me about a job fair in my hometown. Normally, it would not be a problem for me to attend, but family obligations prevented it. Seeing my disappointment, my instructor went in my place. While there, she heard about an environmental conservation internship with Henry County.
I applied as soon as she told me about the position. I threw veterinary science, farming and wildlife management out the window. I was going to pursue environmental conservation.

A Change of Plans

I got an interview within a week. I was ecstatic; the interview went great. Days went by and I waited with bated breath, heart fluttering whenever I checked my email. When I finally received a response, my hope collapsed. I did not get the position.

My disappointment was so great that I almost did not finish reading the email. I wanted to sink into myself and reevaluate my entire future. Fortunately, I held the despair back long enough to read the email’s final sentence: “I do have an intern position that will open the first of August. Are you interested?”

My hope rekindled in an instant. Maybe I could still pursue my dream. I replied with my affirmative answer. Months later, I started with Henry County Parks and Recreation, my eyes set on working with the U.S. Forest Service as a conservationist.

Again, my dream was short-lived. On day one, my supervisor politely explained that I would not be involved in conservation efforts. Instead, I would be creating and facilitating recreation programming, helping with special events and writing grants.

This was not the plan! I had goals! I wanted an exciting outdoor position in which I could use my hands, not a boring office job. Little did I know that I would never again use “boring” to describe the park and recreation field. Remember my thoughts about the television show? Turns out, the writers were not far off the mark.

I spent my first day working with a large team to coordinate and host a countywide event. I stepped into the organized chaos and got to work. The team immediately embraced me. I became a cog in a machine that created something bigger than all of us: an event that provided experiences to community members.

Embracing Parks and Recreation

My world opened to new possibilities. I prayed that every day would be like that first one. Of course, I was disappointed to discover that it was not. I spent the next few weeks working on grants, having no idea that my work would soon lead to the department receiving a $100,000 award that made it possible to offer summer camp at a lower cost for families facing financial barriers to attendance. When I realized that hundreds of local kids would benefit because of something I had done, a new fire lit within me.

After a month, my disappointment was nonexistent. I enjoyed coming to work. I enjoyed the camaraderie. Our leaders made sure the entire team understood how their work impacted people. I felt like I was making a difference, and when I was not there, I missed being able to do so.

As my internship progressed, my perspective changed. This was not just a work-based learning assignment or a job I did for a little extra money. It was a passion, a desire that I wanted to continue to feed. I helped with events, programs and administration, doing whatever needed to be done to help the community. I created experiences, crafted opportunities and facilitated learning. I changed lives.

Naomi Betsill is a Recreation Leader for Henry County.