AndreaL7
| Name: |
Andrea |
| I live: |
Toronto, Canada |
The world could use some positive change! I believe this generation is the answer to those cries for help. As cheesy as it sounds, one person can make a difference, they just have to believe in their abilities and go for it. I believe that everybody is capable of greatness and that most people are their own baracade in a world of endless opportunities. So I created a list of things I want to do in my lifetime. Life is a journey, not a destination, so stop running- get involved!
Bucket List: ( things I want to do in my lifetime)
- Tackle world poverty hands on
- inspire someone to do something they never thought they could do
- eradicate animal abuse
- systematically change the way I live in order to protect our environment
- help someone who needs assistance
- educate people on homelessness and the ways to change the common perception of what a 'homeless person' is
- support equal opportunities for people with disabilities
- put pressure on political leaders to tackle conflict in a peaceful manner ( no more war) and so many more...
I want to get my hands dirty and venture outside the middle class bubble. There is no reason to go through life saying, "Oh wow, I didnt realize that was happening" or " I cant do anything about that.." because you can- its a choice and I choose to take action.
I learned early on that every action counts- big or small- you can make a difference. You dont need to be the President of the United States, or CEO of GE, or Nelson Mandela to have a positive effect on this world.
A prime example of someone who has inspired me to be a better person is my late grandmother. She suffered from a terminal illness for more than half of her life, and she always wore the biggest smile even in her darkest hours- without complaint. To me, she was the ultimate make-up of what a champion of lifes challenges should look like. Because of her, I see the light at the end of the tunnel when the darkness creaps in..."you take what you are given and you make the best of it and you live life to the fullest."
Its never too late to leave your footprints in the sand...
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© 2008. First published on actnow.com.au
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So I have been working on a photoessay for one of my classes and have been able to take tons of pictures of the kids during their exercise routines. They turned out awesome and I was able to capture some raw emotion . I will upload some photos for everyone to check out, so stay tuned!
So I have continued with my action and I am still volunteering with kids with disabilities at the local school near my house. I absolutely love it. Today we did some very cool exercises to keep the kids active and it was even tiring for myself..haha. I just love seeing them achieve something because it puts a smile on my face.
At times I even consider working with these kids as a career path in some way. Just being with them as inspired me to be a better person. Seeing them happy and enjoying themselves is the best part of my day.
On another note, I have not been able ot get in touch with the athlete that I was going to interview, but I got in touch with one of the founders of Invisible Children and I will be uploading that soon!
A couple of weekends ago the Incubators that I am working with and myself, met in Sydney at the Inspire Foundation for the first time. It was an awesome experience to finally get to meet so many like-minded individuals.
We had a jam-packed weekend, filled with discussions, marketing meetings/planning, group talks, presentations from Inspiring individuals who took their passions and turned them into realities that help others and even learned how to bring out the movie makers in ourselves. All in all, this weekend presented me with a fresh outlook on what I am doing and taking part in.
The Inspire Foundation is not just a place for like minded people to meet and talk. It is an organization that believes that Action is the key solution to the problems in this world. You can't just sit back and watch the world go by and expect things to change. You have to take an active part in the change. The weekend simply re-emphasized the importance of getting involved, helping others and making a difference. It is easy and anyone can do it. A lot of the time, its the little things that count and make the biggest difference.
So I have begun to volunteer and I am loving it. I am working at a school close to my house for children with disabilities. They definately put my life into perspective. They make you feel special and they know how to look at the simple things in life and appreciate them fully. I am volunteering twice a week and learning something new each time I go! I believe I will continue to volunteer in this type of environment when I get home as well.
Today the kids got to try out these cool bikes by Body Bikes and they loved every second. If more people created opportunities for these kids to do the things that able bodied kids could do, that would be something to be proud of!
Hey guys,
So things are starting to roll on this end. I am currently working on putting together a magazine with my class for a graduate project. Funny enough, I came up with a section that profiles people and or organizations that are making a difference in this world and I have included the interviews in a Q & A style. Since my Action for ActNow deals with children with disabilities and raising awareness, I chose to profile organizations that are helping children. So far I have ActNow, Invisible Children, a new organization based out of New York called Play! and the Make-A-Wish Foundations Canada. By the end of this semester I will post the link to the online copy of the magazine...
Things are definately shaping up here!
So everything is up in the air at the moment...I am, as usual, trying to do too many things at once, but I know it will all work out.
For my vision, I have decided to work on breaking down barriers for children living with disabilities in society. I am in the process of setting up days when I will be volunteering at a local school for children with disabilities. I am also putting together a few question and answer pages for a magazine my class is creating, that will highlight a few organizations that do a lot of good for these children ( i.e The Sunshine Foundation, Make-A-Wish and I have just contacted this new group that started at NYU called Play!).
At this point I am trying to use my writing capabilities to evoke some change in this area, as well as my own physical capabilities through volunteering. It would be great if anyone else has some ideas that would assist me throughout my Action!!
Cheers
Hey Guys,
I am currently working on my masters in journalism and one of my classes requires that we put together a magazine. I am incharge of the "People" section and one of the things I am trying to do is profile young people who are making a difference. I know all of you are taking action, and I would love to hear about it. Also, if you know of someone who is not with ActNow that I could profile that would be great as well. I am looking for people who are changing the world- in some way or another for the good.
Thanks a million!
Last night my friends and I got a very disturbing text from another friend. As it turns out, the text was to warn us about a potential predator lurking around our University campus at night. Her roommate, who is new to the country, was walking home after a late class and was jumped from behind- unsuspecting.
I was always aware of the potential of being attacked, simply because that is what females are taught to look out for from an early age. I just dont get it? What makes us appear like prime targets? Besides our physical appearances, why do men feel the need to prey on women ?How can we make our surroundings safer for us all? This type of violence needs to stop...we need to (as they say) , take back the night!
