I’m finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with this project, it feels both exciting and a little surreal. For a while, everything felt very up in the air, but things are starting to come together in a way that feels real. I’ve officially secured multiple sponsors, which has made a huge difference, and I now have a budget to work with alongside the money I’ve been saving for the event. It’s taken a lot of outreach, follow-ups, and honestly just pushing myself to ask for things I wasn’t confident asking for, but seeing those efforts pay off has been really rewarding. It’s crazy how you never think you’ll get a “yes” until you do. I also ordered all of the decorations, which will be arriving the week of the auction. That was one of those moments where it hit me that this is actually happening, it’s not just an idea or a plan, it’s something that’s about to really exist. A big part of what’s kept me going through all of this is the artists. I’ve been going to art markets on campus for a while now, and every time I walk through one, I’m reminded of how much talent exists here. There are so many people creating really thoughtful, interesting work, and a lot of it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. That’s been a huge motivation behind this project; creating something that gives that work a different kind of space.At the same time, I won’t pretend it’s been easy. This project has been a lot of work, and I’m definitely starting to feel the exhaustion that comes with juggling everything. But even with that, I’m excited. I’m excited to see everything come to life, see people, and experience it.
