Hello! My name is Matt Gilliatt, I am a rising junior pursuing a major in Materials Science and engineering with a minor in sustainability leadership. I’m from Grafton, Massachusetts, grew up with my brother and sister, and throughout the internship I hope to expand my knowledge in sustainable food systems. Even just through class, my peers and I have learned so much about food systems and how important they can be to surrounding communities, and how impactful they can become if it can become more prevalent in the country. It has been surprising to learn about the scale of food waste and security in the country and by learning as much as I can at the Student Farm, I hope to make some sort of change. In my community in Massachusetts, there was little no talk about community supported agriculture, and coming to Penn State really opened my eyes to the idea in general. By participating in the internship, I want to learn, lead, and connect with the community as much as I can to support my community post-graduation.
To me, community is the medium for people to connect, grow, and develop with other people. People are meant to work together to find solution to problems instead of working alone, because together, challenges seem much less intimidating, and two brains are better than one. Through continued work within a community, its members develop bonds and trust for each other, and with that newfound trust communities can progress further as a whole, establishing better health and opportunities for everyone. I hope that with the Student Farm, my peers and I can work to create a prosperous community within the farm to grow the best we can and engage the outside community around and beyond Penn State with the work we do.
Also, leadership to me means to listen to the who you are leading and do what you believe what is best for them. Leaders are meant to listen more than most, and I know that with the Student Farm we listen to each other, and the community, to grow as efficiently and sustainably as possible. I hope to learn how to listen more effectively to people and surrounding communities, and how to operate in a organization that has people really depending on what is grown for them. Inspiration is a byproduct of good leadership, and hopefully our purpose can be a source of inspiration for more people to start market gardens or urban gardens within their own communities.