"Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing." -Barry Finlay
As Finlay preaches, everything is attainable if you keep working at it. I have used this mantra throughout this whole year as I continue my iQuest project. To recap, I've been doing an independent study project fundraising to build a school in Ghana through the non-profut organization, Pencils of Promise. I have been spending countless hours a week on this project, and many nights it actually keeps me awake as my mind buzzes with new ideas, stress, and drive to make this goal happen.
I have been sticking to my original plan of laying the groundwork during this first semester and sprinkling fundraisers here and there as I get ready for my big second semester event. I have met with different mentors, organized fundraisers through other schools, spoke at Pine Valley Middle School, sold bracelets made in Ghana (picture of the one Mrs. Gagnon bought below), designed flyers, posters, and other advertising material, held booths at large events, organized a Savers clothing drive fundraiser at Cal High (flyer below), spoken at various meetings, launched my social media campaigns, worked with the Cal High PoP club, worked with other Cal High clubs, reached out to private donors, held various meetings with new contacts, and kept myself up to date on the PoP community.
This has over all been a very positive experience for me. I have made a lot of new connections, met a lot of amazing people, and been awe-stricken on many occasions as I watch compassion come over people that I have never even met. When I set up a booth at Canyon Creek Church's OCC carnival, (picture below) I wasn't expecting much to come from it; I figured maybe I would sell a couple bracelets here and there and raise more awareness for Pencils of Promise. However, the generosity of people amazed me and reignited all my hope that I would be able to pull this off. A man at that carnival, who didn't even know much about the organization, just looked at our booth and handed me a $100 bill leaving me speechless. In a world where we see so much of the bad highlighted, it is so refreshing to see the good. When I went to go speak to Pine Valley about this organization and preach the importance of an education, I had a chance to interact with the students afterwards who had questions. To my amazement, these young kids were so engaged and so heartfelt. They had so many new ideas and perspectives and a huge drive to help others; that was such a beautiful and inspiring thing for me to witness. My strongest positive through this all has been meeting new people like these ones that inspire me.
There's some saying that talks about how for every 10 positive things that happen, only one negative thing needs to happen to overpower all of the positives. Despite the amount of amazing people and wonderful stories I have, my biggest frustrations have resulted from the negative people and stories. My goal to raise $25,000 is large; I am not naive to that. This goal alone continues to provide me with an array of backhanded "compliments." These doubtful people are especially skeptical when they take into account my age; this combination makes a lot of people doubt me and what I am capable of. It is also frustrating to want something so bad, but not be able to make it happen as quickly as you want it to. Great things take time, but it can be very frustrating to wait-especially when the wait causes self-doubt.
In fact, this self-doubt has caused me to learn a lot about myself. I have learned that I am capable of more than I think I am. Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone has only proved to be beneficial for me and it has given me the ability to continue to push my limits without feeling as uncomfortable. I have never been comfortable being someone that is pushy, outspoken or that asks for a lot. This has all changed; to this day I continue to ask for large sums of money, opportunities to fundraise, and other forms of support from both people that I know, and people I have never met. This persistence has proved to be a good thing-and has rewarded me with opportunities I would never have had if I didn't push my own boundaries. I have also learned that I can get really excited about new ideas in the moment and that has given me an extra appreciation for the people in my life that ground me. When I am passionate about something, I can get caught up in the moment and learning how to bring myself back down to reality has also been a very vital tool for me to develop.
I have learned a tremendous amount about philanthropy and the donation process through all of this. I have learned that people always want to know what is in it for them. Whether on a conscious or subconscious level, majority of people won't do anything unless motivated by some self-serving motive; so it is always beneficial to start out by explaining to people why donating to me will actually help them. I have also learned that pulling on peoples heart strings is the best way to get them to open their hearts (and their wallets ;)).
I would like to continue speaking about this cause and meeting passionate people that truly make the world go round in my eyes. I would love to continue selling bracelets, and to keep planning new fundraisers.
I would like to start doing a better job updating my social media. My blog, Facebook, and Twitter page could definitely use some love and more updates. I look forward to working on bigger fundraisers and events as we transition into second semester. I will make this happen by documenting everything I do for this project and by making an effort to post at least 1-2 times a week on my Facebook and Twitter and by being persistent in all the ventures I'm taking to make a second semester event so great that it will go down in history.
Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing, and I look forward to continuing my climb throughout the rest of the year!
I have been sticking to my original plan of laying the groundwork during this first semester and sprinkling fundraisers here and there as I get ready for my big second semester event. I have met with different mentors, organized fundraisers through other schools, spoke at Pine Valley Middle School, sold bracelets made in Ghana (picture of the one Mrs. Gagnon bought below), designed flyers, posters, and other advertising material, held booths at large events, organized a Savers clothing drive fundraiser at Cal High (flyer below), spoken at various meetings, launched my social media campaigns, worked with the Cal High PoP club, worked with other Cal High clubs, reached out to private donors, held various meetings with new contacts, and kept myself up to date on the PoP community.
This has over all been a very positive experience for me. I have made a lot of new connections, met a lot of amazing people, and been awe-stricken on many occasions as I watch compassion come over people that I have never even met. When I set up a booth at Canyon Creek Church's OCC carnival, (picture below) I wasn't expecting much to come from it; I figured maybe I would sell a couple bracelets here and there and raise more awareness for Pencils of Promise. However, the generosity of people amazed me and reignited all my hope that I would be able to pull this off. A man at that carnival, who didn't even know much about the organization, just looked at our booth and handed me a $100 bill leaving me speechless. In a world where we see so much of the bad highlighted, it is so refreshing to see the good. When I went to go speak to Pine Valley about this organization and preach the importance of an education, I had a chance to interact with the students afterwards who had questions. To my amazement, these young kids were so engaged and so heartfelt. They had so many new ideas and perspectives and a huge drive to help others; that was such a beautiful and inspiring thing for me to witness. My strongest positive through this all has been meeting new people like these ones that inspire me.
There's some saying that talks about how for every 10 positive things that happen, only one negative thing needs to happen to overpower all of the positives. Despite the amount of amazing people and wonderful stories I have, my biggest frustrations have resulted from the negative people and stories. My goal to raise $25,000 is large; I am not naive to that. This goal alone continues to provide me with an array of backhanded "compliments." These doubtful people are especially skeptical when they take into account my age; this combination makes a lot of people doubt me and what I am capable of. It is also frustrating to want something so bad, but not be able to make it happen as quickly as you want it to. Great things take time, but it can be very frustrating to wait-especially when the wait causes self-doubt.
In fact, this self-doubt has caused me to learn a lot about myself. I have learned that I am capable of more than I think I am. Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone has only proved to be beneficial for me and it has given me the ability to continue to push my limits without feeling as uncomfortable. I have never been comfortable being someone that is pushy, outspoken or that asks for a lot. This has all changed; to this day I continue to ask for large sums of money, opportunities to fundraise, and other forms of support from both people that I know, and people I have never met. This persistence has proved to be a good thing-and has rewarded me with opportunities I would never have had if I didn't push my own boundaries. I have also learned that I can get really excited about new ideas in the moment and that has given me an extra appreciation for the people in my life that ground me. When I am passionate about something, I can get caught up in the moment and learning how to bring myself back down to reality has also been a very vital tool for me to develop.
I have learned a tremendous amount about philanthropy and the donation process through all of this. I have learned that people always want to know what is in it for them. Whether on a conscious or subconscious level, majority of people won't do anything unless motivated by some self-serving motive; so it is always beneficial to start out by explaining to people why donating to me will actually help them. I have also learned that pulling on peoples heart strings is the best way to get them to open their hearts (and their wallets ;)).
I would like to continue speaking about this cause and meeting passionate people that truly make the world go round in my eyes. I would love to continue selling bracelets, and to keep planning new fundraisers.
I would like to start doing a better job updating my social media. My blog, Facebook, and Twitter page could definitely use some love and more updates. I look forward to working on bigger fundraisers and events as we transition into second semester. I will make this happen by documenting everything I do for this project and by making an effort to post at least 1-2 times a week on my Facebook and Twitter and by being persistent in all the ventures I'm taking to make a second semester event so great that it will go down in history.
Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing, and I look forward to continuing my climb throughout the rest of the year!
