When I applied for my internship, I never imagined it would have shaped my life so enormously, but it certainly did. Only 2 years ago, I could not have pictured myself being able to say that I would be part of a two-weekend festival planting 8000 trees. Nor by the time I turned 19 to have worked in a tree and vegetable nursery. Never imagining I could  identify some of South Africa’s indigenous trees and actually say “Yes I know how to plant a tree”.

And here I am, proving myself wrong. I came to Greenpop as a nursery intern, and while I enjoyed working there I saw my strengths more in working with people so switched to the urban greening program. Some of my tasks there included preparing plant days, monitoring older planting sites, research on gardening/planting methods and of course participating in many of our plant days. Coming straight out of High School, I did not have any experience in this area, so I was able to obtain loads of new exciting information. My supervisors made my time extra special with trusting in me and my work, ice-bucket challenges and always being a great support (even still now).