Staying active!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I was very excited to present my “Big Dreamers” program to the West Intermediate Advanced Academic 5^th graders! As the students explained to me what they hope to accomplish in the future with careers and even starting a family, this interactive presentation included the fifth graders coloring a self-portrait of themselves in the future, dressing up the character as his or her future profession. As we discussed character and goals, the kids absolutely loved coming up to the class to present short term and long term goals. They now know that “character counts all the time” and they even wrote this phrase on their future person. At the conclusion of the presentation I was pleased to leave them with a mind stirring with ideas and future goals. I am proud to say that I truly empowered these children with knowledge in the short one hour I was there. I am confident that they will carry out their future plans and I might even be seeing some of them again as my future doctors, lawyers and architects!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Celebrating spring with a beautiful carnival was the perfect start to my Saturday morning last weekend! Bray Elementary held its annual spring carnival Saturday May 21 and I was much honored to be a guest at this joyous event. Signing autographs and even volunteering at the game booths was a great experience! The kids loved playing the games and little did they know they were also learning a lot from them. Almost every game had some sort of strategy planning or concept behind it. The bounce houses, venders, cake walk and even a dunk tank made for a family friendly carnival that brought a smile to everyone’s face. It is so great to see everyone get away with family and friends and forget about all the stress for a day, especially with such beautiful weather! 

Becoming a part of the Boys and Girls Club!

An outgrowth of the popular and effective SMART Moves program, SMART Girls is a health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program for girls ages 8 to 17.

 The program is designed to encourage healthy attitudes and lifestyles that will enable early adolescent girls to develop to their full potential.

With my first visit to the Boys and Girls Club in the greater Dallas area, I was very honored and excited to learn that I will be there new ambassador and specifically be hosting the Smart Girls program.

Just from walking into the club, I was quickly surrounded with children of all ages. Of course they were most fond of my crown! With “ooohh” s and “aaahhh” s  coming out all the young kids’ mouths, I was asked if I was a princess. With a quick smile, I explained my title and my goal to help spread the power of knowledge throughout the world. The girls were most excited to learn that I would be hosting the Smart Girls program in which they learn how to be strong and successful young ladies.

I came home with a beautiful collection of artwork the children had drawn for me and an agenda full of exciting events I will be participating in as an ambassador for the Boys and Girls Club.

An update from Learning Creates Futures

I was very excited to receive an update from the all girl’s orphanage in Mohammadpur, Bangaldesh! The girl’s love their library and enjoy reading books of all kinds! The “thank yous” from these girls truly bring a smile to my face because I know I changed their lives with the power of knowledge.  I am very proud to say that I founded Learning Creates Futures two years ago in an effort to create more opportunities for children all across the world to expand their horizons with the power of knowledge. It brought tears to my eyes to see young girls who once lived on the street, begging for money, to be sitting in an establishment with books, school uniforms, and a smile on. Last time I visited these girls over Spring Break they told me how they loved to go school and how excited they were to have me there to help establish a library. I am honored and proud to say that the library keeps growing and I cannot wait to go Bangladesh and visit these girls again! 

Education truly is the key to success and I work to help every child believe in the power of dreaming.

An indescribable experience

An avid volunteer with children with intellectual disabilities, I was very pleased and honored to be a recognized guest at the Area 10 Special Olympics held at Cedar Hill High School, Saturday April 30. It was a beautiful morning with athletes and teams from all over the greater Dallas area. It was such an indescribable experience, filled with many smiles and warm hugs. I cannot express how much it impacts these children to be able to participate in something we believe to be as simple as a tennis match. Being there and cheering on these athletes with their friends and family truly shows how the simple things in life mean so much. All the volunteers and supporters change these children’s lives with every high-five and “way to go” and it is just such a remarkable event. I love volunteering for the Special Olympics and I look forward to working with each and every one of these children again.