Week 10: The End of One Journey, and the Beginning of the Next

And just like that, this marks the end of my senior project journey. Though this may have been the last week of logging my work, meeting with advisors, and turning in a late blog (first and last time…ish), this is not the last time I’ll be working in this field. I spent this past week working hard to pull my final product together. Each step of the process, I reminded myself that I must try my very best to do the best job I can do, because this may be someone’s first time being educated on houselessness. And, I’d like to think I did my project justice. My final product looks like a report, a shorter article for local newspapers, a pamphlet which I will disperse into various parts of the bay area and libraries for people to read, and a poster for the presentation walkthrough this Saturday. Finishing my final report leaves me with a bittersweet feeling. Obviously I’m glad I was able to finish the work I expected myself to do, but the work itself has overwhelmed me with how much is left to do for the houseless community. After this week, I will work tirelessly to make sure my work reaches as many people in the Bay Area possible. 

While writing, I was left with only one clear solution, which is in our hands. Sure, there are bureaucratic, social, and physical barriers to overcoming houselessness, but another barrier and perhaps the most important that prevailed from my writing, was the person itself. It’s the lack of trust that we’ve built with this community that will continue to be an obstacle, unless our actions change. Sure the government can offer new services, and receiving transportation and ID’s can be easier, but in order for a person experiencing houselessness to accept these services, we must prove ourselves. So, stop the aversive looks when you pass a houseless person, and stop acting like they don’t exist. Instead, confront your preconceived notions, and understand why they must be beat down. Read my report to learn more.

ShreyaSadhwani_Report

I’d also like to thank all of my advisors who supported me throughout the way. I truly couldn’t have done this without these passionate souls that always ensured I was on the right track. I want to thank Ms. Apra for being the most supportive person I could have asked for, always making sure she made time for our weekly meetings (which were always a blast). I want to thank Jay and Lakshmi for meeting meeting with me every week, and putting their time into looking through my work and giving suggestions. SimplyShelter truly ignited my passion for this topic and I wouldn’t be here doing this without it. And last but surely not least, Ms. Nagpal. I can’t imagine how late my blogs would be if it weren’t for her reminders. She truly ensured that my project was a success, and believed in me throughout the way. From the beginning, she told me this project would be a success, and I always kept her words in my mind, which fueled me throughout the way. Again, thank you all so much. I will remember and cherish these 10 weeks forever.

Sadhwani out.