We recently connected with Semaj Mounger and have shared our conversation below.

Semaj, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?

I love this question because it is so relevant to where I am in life in present day!

The first time around while pursuing my undergraduate degree, I relocated for the internship so I felt there was no turning back– while I had a ton of fun and gained a lot of life experiences it was not aligning with what I had envisioned for myself or my career. So it fulfilled the hours I needed but ultimately I did not leave prepared for the workforce.

Now, in my graduate journey I was more intentional about the placement I selected. On a daily basis I work with clients who reflect the population I intend to serve for the remainder of my life. I am building connections with families and similar agencies and getting all of the ins and outs of the field and its development.

All this to say, I have learned a few important steps to gain the most of your experience..
1. Choose a place that is reflective of your end goal!
2. Make the most of it! If you aren’t getting the knowledge and experiences that you expected be sure to speak up! Be pleasant yet firm.
3. Ask questions and create the space!! What I mean by this is that internships can be a two way journey; you can learn from the company and this is your chance to help them learn from you.. if you have an additional gift, showcase it! It just may land you a permanent position :)

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I found my passion early in life after my younger brother was born. He has a rare blood disorder (G6PD) and spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital –He is now 20 and healthy!! But due to him being so ill he missed out on a lot of fun in his early years and at one point had to stop playing basketball which was something he loved. I knew then that I wanted to help children who had disabilities enjoy life.

That lead to my educational choices to pursue degrees in Therapeutic Recreation and Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis… all of this lead to THRIVE!

THRIVE: A Place for Fun is a community organization that hosts events for children who have disabilities and their families. Our overall mission is to help children and their families obtain the optimal quality of life by adapting fun activities to meet them at their functional level. That is what makes us stand out! I am passionate about the entire family unit so I strive to serve each member in one way or another.

I practice advocacy and awareness Through THRIVE by shedding light on different childhood disorders and diseases each month on social media, providing community resources to families, assisting with advocacy within school systems and our newly added apparel!

Pre-COVID 19: We also provided all inclusive public or private packages which included events such as: themed social gatherings, support groups, birthday parties and community awareness events… I plan to get back to this soon!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I can recall 3 “pivots” vividly! The first was relocating, the second being re-branding and the most recent being navigating the pandemic! The final one has been the toughest since the organization heavily relies on in person interactions, however, our main priority will always be the safety of our consumers. Finding ways to keep the clientele engaged and excited to interact with one another virtually has been a challenge.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

“If you want something done; do it yourself!” While the statement stands true in some cases, I am learning that it is not the best motto to live by while trying to build a business. I am learning the importance of having a team of like minded individuals and how networking can open a variety of doors.

Contact Info:

• Website: thrivefunplace.com
• Instagram: thrivefun
• Facebook: @thrivefun or THRIVE: A Place for Fun