Love, Maddi M
To my first love, the social impact studio.
My mum always said that you never forget your first love. That you learn so much about yourself and life from giving all of you to another. She said that your first love will live in your heart for the rest of your life. I thought this was a load of mud until I redefined what my love could look like, when it wasn’t a singular person, but rather a collective purpose.
I fell truly, madly and deeply in love with the Social Impact Studio. It was love at first sight and the love only grew stronger every day. I left who I was behind and leaned into the world of growth that the Studio was offering me. My eyes were opened to the world, my mind began to question everything in front of me. I connected with people in ways that were arguably life-saving and I learnt more life lessons in my 2 years at the Studio than I did in my 20 years of education. I was given a safe space to be challenged and to be held accountable. I was forced to look at myself, how my existence affects society and how I can put my passion for equity into realistic action. I learnt to be more open, forgiving, empathetic, confident, assertive, curious and courageous - all values I am so proud to be made up of. These values lie the foundation of all friendships that come out of the Studio, and I now have friends who I can trust to be honest with me, make me want to be better every day and who I look at in complete awe. What I gained from the Studio is truly unexplainable. I feel incredibly lucky to have found this community, it truly is my richest treasure. It was the biggest honour to give to the Dunedin community and to love this hard.
The mahi that is being pumped out of that tiny little office is remarkable. As a previous employee of the studio and seeing everything that runs in the background, I yearn for the time and energy that is poured in, to be better recognised. The pure magic that happens runs heavily on volunteered time, both from staff and students. People believe in the purpose so deeply that they are willing to prioritise it and make sacrifices in their life for the greater good. This is wonderful and beautiful but it is important to consider that the energy that is put into this space is not just any old energy. It is time spent in vulnerability, in conversations around mental illness and suicide, balancing boundaries with passion, supporting students with their struggles, navigating your own development and reflection, late nights, evenings and weekends dedicated to delivering often life-changing events and projects. Have you ever had an emotional conversation that required you to be vulnerable? And do you remember how drained you felt afterwards? Now think about doing that every day. These spaces demand constant vulnerability and that should never be overlooked. The University and wider Dunedin community are so lucky to have such fiercely dedicated, community-minded people who are actively challenging the world and putting in the work for the next generations to come. For things to continue in a sustainable and honourable way, I believe more resources absolutely need to be put in from the University.
During my time at the Studio, I once went home for the summer and a family friend said to me “Maddi there is something different about you, you are really glowing. You’re in love aren’t you!”
To this I blushed because I was in the thick of a romantic dry spell (my preferred state might I add) and had to convince her that I was not in fact in love in the usual sense, but rather with life and purpose, all kudos to the Studio. I would have given my life and soul to the Studio and our wider purpose, thank god it taught me how to put in healthy boundaries.
Two years after I left the studio, I still carry its love and learnings with me wherever I go. I cherish my time there so deeply and credit it for shaping my being today. Because of the studio I can honestly say that my existence is one I am proud of and can’t get enough of improving.
Mum was right, I will never forget my first love.