It was my first and won’t be the last

This year, I spent my first summer in Seattle. Months before, I imagined having a chill summer where I could explore many places in Washington State or elsewhere. I never imagined spending part of my summertime with new parents and their babies, facilitating conversation in English. But in a surprising turn of events, I had the valuable opportunity to volunteer as a Group Leader at PEPS. Shout out to the Leader Recruiter, Anushree Dasgupta, who opened the gate for me!  

As an Indonesian, I must admit that I have a solid fear and insecurity regarding my English-speaking abilities. What if I am unable to express my ideas well? What if my accent sounds weird? What if I could not keep up with the conversation? And a ton of other what-ifs.  

My primary responsibility as a PEPS Group Leader was to lead weekly discussions with new parents in the northeast area of Seattle for 12 weeks. In my group, there were 7 parents, not to mention their adorable babies! Every Wednesday evening, for approximately two hours, we gathered at one of the parents’ houses to discuss a variety of topics. Some of them included babies’ development, parents’ well-being, sleeping and feeding practices, purposeful play, speech development, and the effects of music on babies. 

Prior to the meeting, I typically needed 2–3 hours to put everything together. I read the PEPS manual and discussion prompts, created my own leads and questions, coordinated with the parent hosting the meeting, and sent a weekly email to the group. Aside from the materials, PEPS provided training before all leaders started their group facilitation. The training was not only about the theoretical part but also equipped us with real-life practice through dynamic role plays. Additionally, I had the opportunity to learn from other leaders on how to facilitate the group. 

Since it was my first time, I was both nervous and excited to kick off the group’s meeting. Initially, during the first two to three meetings, I felt restless. Oh gosh! I was uncertain about my responses to the parents and I was too afraid to get into the conversations. But as time passed, I consistently made an effort to bring my positive energy and deliver the material without feeling pressure — just enjoy the moment. And luckily for me, my group was a dream team! They were cooperative, blended with each other easily, and welcomed me to their dynamics. It’s worth noting that PEPS regularly checked in and supported its leaders. It brought me comfort during those 12 weeks.  

Through this experience, I gained competencies in mobilizing and facilitating diverse groups, as well as my English speaking and widening my networks. Asking random questions as an icebreaker, doing hands-on activities with markers and sticky notes, as well as having developmental moments with the babies were some of my ways to lead the group purposefully and collaboratively. 

Furthermore, I connected the group with a variety of guest speakers to enrich the discussion and create a wider connection for the parents. I am deeply grateful to Rose Earl (Mental Health Counselor), Wendy Bell (Speech-language Pathologist), Nicole Stankovic (Piano Teacher and Researcher), and Becky Rosseau (Verified and Licensed Physical Therapist), all of whom contributed meaningful and useful discussions for the parents. 

This experience has been totally beneficial for me as a learner seeking to hone my skills and competencies in communities and networks. Additionally, it has significantly contributed to my personal growth. I learned how to believe in myself and be brave enough to try something new. 

My first summer in Seattle was different from my expectations. But I had no regrets. At all. Furthermore, my first experience at PEPS was beyond my imagination. It was full of what-ifs and fears, yet ultimately it contributed to the better version of myself. I’ll treasure this as one of my life’s highlights. Lastly, I’m confident that this first experience is just the beginning. It won’t be the last, because I look forward to facilitating other groups and playing a role in creating supportive communities (and obviously seeing more adorable little human beings!). 

This piece of writing has published at https://blog.peps.org/2024/11/04/it-was-my-first-and-wont-be-the-last-reflections-from-a-peps-group-leader/ 

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