My Work Family

By Aimee Maggiacomo,  SportWORKS officer

It feels like the CSP crew was just in Glasgow completing our midterm training, and really, it almost feels like I just got here. Time has literally sped right by; each day, week, and month has flown by with lightning speed.

With just over two months of my placement left with the Anguilla Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA), recently I have started to feel as though projects are ‘wrapping up’ and things are winding down, but don’t get me wrong, there is still a lot on the go from now until December, so there is no sign of things slowing down anytime soon.

In August during my monthly call with Colin, the Manager of International Programs at CGC, he mentioned that it is okay if I am taking a step back, and Carmen and the Board are taking the lead with some work and carrying forward with certain tasks, while I continue to focus on completing my projects. But in other words, letting Carmen and the Board, “run the show”. I couldn’t have agreed more with him, and had already felt that Carmen was taking a significant amount of initiative with her work and felt that her job structure was really taking shape.

In preparation for our Board meeting, Carmen made the first draft of the agenda for approval, guided the meeting by leading with the agenda, and spoke confidently while contributing greatly to the topics of conversation. And it was funny, when I was sitting in the meeting, listening to Carmen talk and listening to the Board discuss the agenda items, while still of course being attentive, I felt as though I was captivated by what I was observing. I know that this may sound odd, but while I was taking everything in, I felt that I was witnessing the development that we, everyone at the ACGA, have been striving for throughout the year. You may recall me mentioning in one of my first blogs, that my year at the ACGA would involve many projects focused on developing the foundation for this young association, and while sitting there, I was completely enthralled as I was witnessing first hand, the development that, together the ACGA and I, have been working to achieve.

It has actually been an amazing experience taking myself out of the circle for a minute. And I do believe that it is essential step as I prepare to leave in the near future. The thing is, I want to be in the circle still! It was actually really hard to make myself take this step back, because for 8 months I have been involved in every area of the Association. The ACGA has become my work family and I have become very attached to the work, my co-worker, and the Board and throughout the process I have become very passionate about the ACGA.

But what I am feeling now, I think, is nothing but a positive emotion. To have this bond with the ACGA, is something I suppose I have been working towards and have been developing throughout the year. Together the ACGA and I have gone through so much. We have overcome challenges, shared ideas and goals, and most importantly grown together.

And although the inevitable will happen, and I will be leaving Anguilla, which will be challenging, I do feel though that I am leaving relationships that I will always have and that I will be leaving an Association that will continue to develop and grow. Carmen and I have already agreed to communicate on a regular basis, so  I know I am not leaving my work family behind entirely, because I can look forward to hearing about the continued work at the ACGA.

But there is no need to rush things, so… you ask what happens between now and December?

I will enjoy every moment I spend with the ACGA finishing my work projects and continue to be captivated by Carmen and the Board.

I will cherish every second when I hear the school playing outside my office window…

…and a few other things in-between.

Until next time, from my family to yours,

Aimee Maggiacomo