Hello! My name is Alayna

Hello! My name is Alayna, and I am the writer of this article, actually, I’m the writer of most of our newsletter articles. Welcome to a little behind-the-scenes look at the person who helps put together our monthly newsletter and supports many other projects here at SEEDS.

I have been with SEEDS since my freshman year of high school, and now, as I prepare to begin my freshman year at UNC Greensboro, it’s time for me to say goodbye to my wonderful SEEDS family. At the end of this week, I’ll be moving to Greensboro to pursue my passion for sustainability and law, and while I’m excited for this next chapter, leaving SEEDS is incredibly bittersweet.

Over the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many amazing people through SEEDS. Each of them has left a lasting impact on me, just as I believe SEEDS has left a lasting impact on our community. Whether I was writing newsletters, helping with administrative work, supporting volunteers, or working behind the scenes, every experience has helped me grow into the person I am today.

SEEDS has been so much more than a place where I worked, it has been a place of peace. No matter what was happening in my life, walking through the doors of SEEDS always brought me a sense of calm. It became a place where my mind could settle, where I felt encouraged to be myself, and where I was constantly surrounded by kindness, purpose, and people who genuinely cared. It has been a safe place for my mind, my body, and my soul, and that is a gift I will never take for granted.

I have endless gratitude for my coworkers. Our staff may be small, but I truly believe that’s one of our greatest strengths. Working in such a close-knit team has meant always having people willing to support one another, celebrate each other’s successes, and lend a helping hand whenever it was needed. You have all made SEEDS feel like so much more than a workplace, it has been a second home.

Some of the greatest blessings I’m taking with me are the friendships I found here. The people I met through SEEDS have become lifelong friends who feel more like family. Together we've shared laughter, challenges, accomplishments, and countless memories that I'll cherish forever. Knowing I have this community behind me gives me comfort as I begin this next chapter, and I know these relationships won't end just because I'm moving away.

Because of SEEDS, I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone, gained confidence in myself, and learned skills that I know I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. More importantly, I’ve learned what it means to build community, care for our environment, and create meaningful change through compassion and hard work. SEEDS has shown me that even the smallest acts of kindness and service can create lasting change, and that lesson is one I hope to carry with me throughout my education, my career, and my life.

To everyone who has been part of my journey, my coworkers, volunteers, donors, and community members, Thank you. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me, and giving me a place where I could grow. Thank you for filling my days with happiness, purpose, and a sense of belonging. I'll always be grateful for my time at SEEDS, and I'll carry the lessons, friendships, and memories I've made here with me as I begin this exciting new chapter.

This isn’t goodbye forever, it’s simply "see you later." SEEDS will always have a special place in my heart. No matter where life takes me, a part of me will always belong here. Thank you for helping shape the person I have become. I can only hope that, in some small way, I have given back to this incredible organization as much as it has given to me.