Chapter Forty Nine: A Year Shaped by People

This week feels different. Not in a big dramatic way, just in that quiet end of something feeling where you start noticing all the small pieces that held the year together. It is less about accomplishments and more about appreciation. About realizing how much of this year was not just my own effort, but the result of a lot of people showing up in ways big and small.

Living and working somewhere new forces you to adjust constantly. Guyana is not an easy place to land, especially if you are coming from a life where certain comforts are built in. There are a lot of small moments where you realize you need help. Figuring things out, getting from place to place, learning how systems work, learning what does not work, and learning how to slow down when you need to. At the end of it all, I am really aware of how many people helped make that adjustment possible, both personally and professionally.

The most important place to start is the Protected Areas Trust. It became a home away from home in a very real way. Not just because of the work, but because of the people. Across teams and roles, there was always someone willing to help, answer questions, or make space for learning. There is something powerful about working in an organization where growth and development are not just words, but part of how things actually function day to day. Being encouraged to try new things, take risks, and push outside of my comfort zone, especially in communications, writing, events, and strategy, made a huge difference in how much I was able to grow this year.

That kind of environment is not a given. Especially in international projects and especially in smaller teams where everyone is already stretched. I do not take it lightly. Having a place where you can show up, do your best work, and feel supported by both leadership and colleagues is something I am deeply grateful for.

Working alongside the Protected Areas Commission added another layer to this experience. Getting closer to the people actually managing national parks, urban parks, and protected areas, and learning the history, challenges, and legacy behind that work, has been eye opening. Conservation looks very different when you are closer to the technical side, the science, and the government systems that hold it all together. The Commission accomplishes an incredible amount with a relatively small team, and seeing that up close has been both grounding and motivating.

One thing I keep coming back to is how important communication and storytelling are in this space. Not as an afterthought, but as something that actively supports conservation goals. I am hopeful about the future here. About what is possible when communication is given the time, thought, and resources it deserves, and when stories from these places are shared more intentionally.

I also really valued the chance to connect with global conservation organizations like WWF and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. Meeting communications professionals working at different scales reminded me that this field is still evolving. There is space for creativity, strategy, and real impact in how conservation stories are told. It was reassuring to see that there are people thinking deeply about this work and pushing it forward in different ways.

On a more personal note, I am incredibly thankful for the people who welcomed us into their spaces and projects. Karanambu Lodge, and the entire team there made it possible for us to visit the Rupununi, spend time on meaningful projects, and experience places like the Victoria amazonica in a way that felt intentional and special. Those moments, where work, learning, and time with family came together, are some of the ones that will stay with me the longest.

There are also so many smaller connections that mattered just as much. The Guyana Tourism Authority, event organizers, speakers, creatives, local businesses, bakers, farmers, taxi drivers, and people you meet simply by showing up and being open. Guyana is a small place in the best and hardest ways. Conservation and tourism are even smaller communities within that. But that also means relationships form quickly, and support shows up in unexpected places.

I keep thinking about how none of this happened in isolation. Every conversation, every shared meal, every ride across the city, every introduction added to the web that made this year possible. Even the briefest interactions, someone sharing a memory of growing up near a park or talking about how things used to be, shaped how I understood the place and the work.

As this chapter comes to a close, I am mostly just thankful. Thankful for the trust, the opportunities, the learning, and the people. Thankful for the challenges too, because they stretched me in ways I would not have chosen on my own. And thankful for the reminder that meaningful work is almost never about one person. It is about the systems, communities, and relationships that hold everything together.

That is what I will be carrying forward.