From Idealism to Insight: Reassessing My Parks and Rec Beliefs
In my early career as an eager, program-minded young professional, I held strong beliefs about what recreation professionals should bring to their communities. I thought our primary duty was to run as many high-quality programs as possible, driven by passion and dedication to our field. While I still value giving our best, experience has shown me there’s more nuance than I initially realized. In this article, I’ll revisit some of my early beliefs and reflect on how they’ve evolved through experience. Looking back on these ideals, I’m re-evaluating what still resonates and where reality has shifted my perspective.