It was early October, and the sun was beaming. It was surprisingly (and annoyingly) hot for a Michigan autumn day. And it was this day that we hosted one of our annual outreach events: Chai with the BLI.

I was furious with the weather, which is not uncommon for me as an out-of-state student. I had imagined a crisp, cool autumn breeze that would encourage passersby to want some hot chai and learn about the BLI alongside it. Instead, we were sweating and shielding our eyes from the sun.

We did not have shade. I didn’t even think about ordering tents! The sun glared down on us mercilessly. And of course, the tablets we were using to collect uniqnames overheated.

This was my first time hosting an event at the BLI—or ever, for that matter! I had no experience with event planning or community outreach. I was honestly terrified. I wanted everything to go well.

Since this was my first year working as an Applied Leadership Fellow (ALF) at the BLI, I wanted to make a good impression. And when things started going south, I felt like I had failed.

The BLI has several ALF teams, and mine was Community Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement (a.k.a. CORE). Much of our work involved planning, hosting, and attending outreach events to spread the word about the BLI and all it has to offer to U-M undergrads and the broader campus community.

I joined CORE because—the extrovert I am—I love meeting and talking with people. At the same time, I was excited about the prospect of gaining new practical skills in outreach and event planning.

I knew the role would be a learning experience for me, but the perfectionist in me still wanted to somehow do this job perfectly. I didn’t want to make any mistakes. I’m sure many students here at Michigan can relate to this mindset, considering that we’re the “leaders and best.”

No pressure.

While Chai with the BLI didn’t go exactly as I had hoped, I learned so much from it. In the beginning, I focused solely on the negatives and beat myself up about it. In hindsight, I see the value in the experience and what it taught me: flexibility is just as important as preparation, and you don’t have to try to handle everything alone.

You can’t always plan for everything. You can try, but things will not always work out. In those situations, what matters is being able to adapt and work with others to find solutions.

Yes, we had leftover chai (maybe, just maybe, people didn’t want a hot drink on a hot day). But we set up the extras on the first floor for people to grab freely.

Yes, we didn’t have shade. But my supervisor had sunscreen available, and despite the heat, everyone staffing the event stayed positive. The lack of shade didn’t deter us from being friendly and connecting with students.

Yes, the tablets overheated, but we pivoted to writing down uniqnames on paper instead.

No, it didn’t go perfectly, but the show still went on!

Looking back, I realize that I didn’t have to be perfect, and I didn’t have to be perfect alone. I had people there to support me. I also realize how those little mistakes that bugged me were fundamental in my learning.

It’s okay to not be good or “the best,” especially when you’re first starting something new. You’re expected to make mistakes. And it’s not just okay but normal. Mistakes are a part of making progress. And making mistakes doesn't make you any less capable.

So if I could go back and give a piece of advice to myself, it would be this: lean on others and embrace the learning experience. The BLI is a very supportive community, so lean on them! And be okay with riding both the ups and downs. Both failure and success are a part of learning, so don’t be afraid of either.

Chai with the BLI

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