February 24th, 2020
Terraza has currently reached a transition period. It has become apparent that something has to change and that what we are doing now isn't working. For example, we had a game night on February 21st and only one person showed up that wasn't part of the student leadership team, that's not okay. We are not paying this much for rent for that to happen. We aren't going to be paying that much rent for much longer. We are moving out of space at the end of February, in one week. Sharky's is no longer willing to be the only sponsor.
The original plan was for Sharky's to get us started and then for Ashley to find more businesses and people to sponsor, spreading the cost and then Sharky's would start paying less. But that did not happen. Still, over a year later there have been no other sponsors and Sharky's remains the only one giving money. Yes, partly this has been the community not wanting to come behind this project, but did we give them the chance? Most people I talk to don't know what Terraza is much less where it is or why it is a thing. If people in Tamarindo, a tiny town, where everyone knows everything about everyone don't know anything about Terraza that's a problem. We had the event where Chad spoke and we introduced explaining what Terraza was and we asked for support, but really who goes to one event at a place they've barely heard of and decides to sponsor them? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't do that. We should have got out there more, have more events for the whole community. I know the point was to have a space just for teenagers, but teenagers don't have money to pay for rent and no one pays attention to teenagers. So having events for them doesn't bring up recognition within the town.
Looking backward makes me sad because I see the moments where we could have taken a step in another direction and probably ended on a better path. We could have worked to create programs during the day involving other age groups, we could have explained more about what Terraza is at the BINGO we hosted, we could have followed up more with the people that showed up to the Chad fundraiser, but we didn't. And now we are moving out and it's too late. Our mission was compromised by a lack of follow-through, forethought, and strategy. We are running a business! It needs planning strategy, funding and can't just rely on Ricky (Owner of Sharky's).
Looking back I also remember meetings where I asked these questions, I asked about sponsors, about the budget, about renting out space during the day and I was told to not worry about it. To just spread the word amongst the teenagers the best I could. I regret comprising my intuition when told to, maybe if I had pushed a little harder something could be different. But then again, could they? Ashley, the adult in charge of the project was the one that needed to take those steps and lead us in that direction. She was supposed to have that knowledge and leadership to be able to move the project in that direction. She didn't completely have it and as a teenager, I couldn't force it on her.
So now over a year since the opening of this project, we are moving out. So what happens next? We failed the first attempt. Do we try again?
The thing is this time around things are different. Before, Terraza was supposed to be a safe place for teenagers to hang out because they didn't have a safe space. But a few months ago the Tamarindo skate park reopened and now it is a safe space for teenagers to hang out, and they do. People love the skatepark and even when people come up to Terraza they usually end up leaving and going to the skatepark. So now the context is different. Teenagers have space, a good one. So what is the point in continuing with Terraza?
Originally Terraza had other objectives. To empower teenagers, to educate teenagers and to give back to the community. In the space at Terraza, we did work to empower teenagers. I tried to cultivate a relationship with the teenagers that came to our events and I tried to motivate and empower them the best I could. And at Terraza we did hold events to give back to the community with our partnership with Costa Rica Makes Me Happy we held beach cleanups regularly in partnership with them. However, Terraza did not educate teenagers in any way. We never put after school programs into place, never set up tutoring, or held the workshops that were originally intended to be held.
My question now, to myself and the rest of the team is doing the other objectives, empowering, educating and giving back drive the project enough to keep it going. And are this still important and relevant to the teenage demographic in the area?
We started to discuss this at our Student Leadership Meeting on the 13th. I was very candid in stating that I was concerned that there was no point in Terraza at this point, especially if we continued to operate this way. Everyone agreed with me, which was great, but not great ideas on how to shift were come up with.
On the team, there are four of us, Ashley (manager), Emma, Cata and myself. At this point, we have all lost motivation and faith in this project. Cata and I have talked about quitting the project on multiple occasions, the project is failing and at this point could completely go into the ground or it could shift and be reborn, however, I doubt the later one will happen. Plus both me and Cata have other CAS projects that we want to focus on and Terraza, with little effort from Ashley, no longer seems worth our effort.
It's very confusing because I want to persevere and work to make something out of this project, but I don't feel that it can succeed or that it needs to succeed. Teenagers have a place, and our weekly game nights aren't changing anything. I think this project could go into the ground and then resurface under new leadership and possibly be successful. But at this point, I don't think we have the resources or expertise necessary to succeed and I don't know how to go out and find it, especially having Ashley in charge, when unfortunately what we need is someone else in her place.
In conclusion, I am currently struggling with figuring out how to move forward with this project, and if to move forward with this project. I’m spending time reflecting on the strengths and weakness of the original intent and trying to figure out if the strength can outway the weakness, I don’t think they can. I think we need new people. However, I am trying to do this through open communication and collaboration with the rest of the team. I spoke candidly at the Student Leadership Meeting and will continue to speak candidly and ask the hard question cause at this point there is no tiptoeing around the fact that we are failing. This experience so far has been a challenge, but I have learned a lot and will be able to bring this experience into a new project in the future.
Today Terraza is still a thing. We are moving out this weekend and we will see where it goes from there.
* Identify strengths and areas for growth, Challenges were undertaken showing that new skills are learned, Plan and initiate an activity, Show perseverance and commitment to your project, Work collaboratively with others, Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.
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