Wonderfolk in the Past, Present & Future: Part 2

(Re)introducing Hayze

You may recognize Hayze from one of our most recent cohorts! While it hasn’t been that long since she’s officially moved from a fellow to an alum, she’s already jumping on ways to change the world. Read on below to learn about what she’s been up to and the ways that Wonderfolk has influenced the world as she knows it.

Q: We know that you have recently become an alum of Wonderfolk! What have you been up to since then? Are you working? Studying? Etc? 

A: Since Wonderfolk, I’ve been joining a lot of leadership opportunities within my school. Wonderfolk found a love of “doing more” (for me) and life seems kind of boring when my schedule isn’t filled. Wonderfolk truly gave me a reason to leave the house. Before this program, I spent all of my free time sitting in my room. I might’ve had a hobby or two, but I wasn’t doing things the way that I do things now.

Q: Wonderfolk was born out of the inequalities that exist due to a lack of access. Our mission has focused on providing opportunities to youth to experiences they might not have had due to inequalities. Wonderfolk actively is addressing this gap and these needs with the Unity Through Arts, Our Naturehood, and Global Leadership programming we are doing. How do you feel like Wonderfolk bridged a gap for you? Could you have experienced what you experienced in Wonderfolk without the program? (feel free to expand on your own experience and life experience)

A: I had a lot of unique experiences with Wonderfolk that I know I never would’ve had if it weren’t for being a part of this program. I learned how much I loved being around people. I [knew I] was already an extrovert when I joined the program, but I left 10 times more extroverted. 

Q: Were there specific experiences you gained that you wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise, after participating in Wonderfolk's programming?

A: When we went on our trip to Costa Rica, it was my first time seeing a waterfall. (Yes, I’ve never been to Multnomah Falls). It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, and when I imagine my trip or when people ask me my favorite part, I always say the hike to that waterfall. After seeing that waterfall, I fell in love with nature 1000 times over.

I 100% believe that Wonderfolk is a unique program that I would not find anywhere else. A huge part of why this program was so amazing were the mentors.I feel like they genuinely tried to relate and work with us instead of acting like they were simply superior to the students on the trip. They were very understanding and facilitated the bonding that I was able to have with the other students in my cohort. A huge portion of why Wonderfolk is so so special to me is because I found adults that I felt safe around and that rarely happens for me.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

A: Wonderfolk showed me my passion for community and mentorship every group that I work with. Now I spend time focusing on rapport because I think it is equally as important as the hard work that we do. When we were on that trip, the students supported each other in ways that I have never seen before. We all understood that this was a unique experience and had the utmost care for each other. 

Since that trip I have craved finding communities that genuinely care about me the way that my Wonderfolk community did.