Finding Purpose in the Chaos

This season of life feels oddly similar to my second year of college when I worked four jobs to pay for school.

Some of you may know that I work outside of Sustainable Classrooms to help cover basic needs. Right now, I’m balancing two part-time jobs here in Bozeman, and although some days feel chaotic, I still feel a strange sense of purpose in the middle of it all.

Wednesday brought back so many emotions and memories of accomplishment.

5:30 AM — Got ready for the day and started writing an email campaign for the final 48 hours of Idaho Gives, along with a thank-you message to everyone who attended and supported our silent auction last Friday.

6:30 AM — Chatted with our team in Togo about plans for upcoming school lunch distributions and updates on classroom construction.

8:30 AM — Arrived at my first job at REI. During breaks, I kept up with messages from our team and emailed donors from Friday’s event.

3:45 PM — Drove straight from REI to my new job at SHINE, a local beer sanctuary.

4:00 PM – 9:30 PM — Worked through the evening rush until after last call.

10:30 PM — Finally clocked out after nearly 14 hours.

At the end of the night, I opened our Idaho Gives campaign page honestly not expecting much. We had just poured so much energy into our event, and I assumed many supporters had already given all they could. Even setting a $1,000 goal felt ambitious.

I was brought to tears when I saw we had surpassed it, raising $1,095 by the end of the day.

Every day, I’m humbled by people’s willingness to give to something greater than themselves. It inspires me to keep showing up, even when life feels exhausting.

I often reflect on where I am in life. I never imagined I’d be working jobs similar to the ones I would've worked in college while building a nonprofit on the side. People often ask me how long I plan to continue this work in Togo.

The truth is: this isn’t just a passion project or a short-term mission trip.

I may never earn anything financially from Sustainable Classrooms, but watching the growth, resilience, and dreams unfolding through our work in Togo is something I could never walk away from.

When I was younger, working in the corporate world was one of my biggest dreams. But after traveling and seeing more of the world, that dream slowly faded. Life looks very different now than I once imagined, but in many ways, far more meaningful.

David and our small team in Togo motivate me every single day. Their dedication is what makes this dream of creating a better world possible. Our donors help turn those dreams into reality. In many ways, I’m simply the bridge connecting resources from one side of the world to the other while David, the engineers, and our lunch distribution cook bring everything to life.

So if you ever find yourself reflecting on where you are in life, remember this:

Wherever you are right now may be exactly where you’re meant to be.

Sometimes all it takes is a small shift in perspective to see the bigger picture.

Ask yourself:

Can I give more to my future and the future of others?

That question is what keeps me grounded.

Thank you for giving me and our team this opportunity,

Jestine Lackner

Founder, Sustainable Classrooms