Michael’s entry – Poly Home 2010 – The Biggest Ever

As Poly House slowly winds to a close I have had the opportunity to reflect on everything that we have achieved.  Through hundreds of hours of blood, sweat, and tears (literally) we have achieved something amazing.  I had the distinct honor of walking the family though on the first ever tour of their new home.  Our project might be called Poly House, but I think it would more appropriately be called Poly Home.

Home

–          the place in which one’s domestic affections are centered.

–          any place of residence or refuge

To me, a home is so much more than a house, and I think what we have built for the Todd family, is a place which will quickly be embraced as not just their new house, but a home.  From the scripture verses that got written on the concrete under the carpet, to the decorative tiles, or the beautifully inlaid stones on the front entryway (all of which contain the children’s handprints), this year’s Poly Home is something that I will never forget, and I expect the Todd’s will never forget the impact that a group of 28 students, and a community were able to make on the family in a scant 19 days.

Many people have mentioned the scope of the project on the blog up until this point, and I think it is safe to say that this is the biggest, and one of the most successful Poly House projects ever undertaken.  I remember those initial meetings when the students were brainstorming ideas for this project, and to see those ideas standing proudly on that property is mind boggling.  From the graciously donated garage from PWS, to the great master addition, to the driveway, the garden and the patio, this is not the same house.  This is indeed my proudest accomplishment in academia to this point.  As the project manager of such a big undertaking, I learned so much along the way.  There were many things I was proud of, and many things I would do differently, but as I stood with the other students, lining the driveway, emblazoned in our brand new t-shirts, waiting (yes waiting!) for the family to arrive, I couldn’t help but think about the efforts of so many people: all of my team project managers, all of their team members, all of the donors, all of the volunteers and all of the people who fed us.  We were ready to reveal our work to a grateful family, with time to spare.  That was when I felt the success of all of our achievements, and I am so very proud of all of my fellow students.  We pulled together like a group that had been working together for years.  Where one person left off, another was one foot behind them ready to keep pushing forward.  As those of us in California know, all of the road construction signs read, “Progress as Promised.”  That’s how I feel about Poly House, it just got done, because it had to, because we wanted it to, because it needed to, and because no one would accept failure.

Thank you to everyone for the chance of a lifetime.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

– Galatians 6:9

Michael Minasian

Project Manager