Today during lunch I met with Miss
Kellie to discuss about the students that will be chosen for the
scholarship. Miss Kellie said that is was a good idea to open it to all
the 10th and 9th graders because maybe there are students that are
interested and we don't know about. We decide to have them write a
response to the following questions (at the end )and send them to me by
the end of the week. Then on Monday we will be choosing (hopefully
Selene will be there and Miss Kellie of course).
I felt that the talk with Miss Kellie was very important because it
motivated me even more to keep this project going. At first I was
terrified because honestly I thought that the students wouldn't show any
interest and if there was no interested then why would I be doing this
project? And it would really be a waste of my time because I have many
things do so thing school year and I'm taking my time to create a
scholarship for students to take and experience the opportunity that I
had. The sciences are my passions, they are what make me happy, and the
camp was such as eye opening opportunity for me because there isn't many
people in school that like the science the way I do and many ways I feel
like an outcast because I'm the science nerd. But when I was at camp I
had a bunch of weird and unique people like that used to watch animal
planet when they were in Elementary school and liked to look at bugs for
fun. I was with people like me and it also showed me all the amazing
opportunities that student like us can get. I want this opportunity to
mean a lot of the students and show them that there are a lot of
opportunities out there for you if you follow your passion and what you
like because the world is huge and there are people similar to you out
there.
I was scared that the students would take it for granted and there
would be nobody representing the school at the camp. And that would have
been disappointing because I have been speaking with Laura (the camp
director), Jim (project and camp founder) and my counselors about my
project and all the work that I've been doing to have to tell them,
sorry guys nobody in my school is interested. It would also look bad
because they have helped and supported the school a lot and it would be disappointing that the students are not showing interest.
So during an entire period I kept think in my head: what if they don't
like it? What if they think it's weird? What if they just ignore my
presentation? What if this was a waste? I was expecting the worst so I
won't get disappointing afterward. So during the last period I went in
the 10th grade science class and with help of Miss Kellie I told them
what I was doing. We told them about the questions and I told them a
little bit about the camp. At this point I was a little less nervous
because they were all very focused on what I was saying, it wasn't until
they started asking questions that I was able to finally breathe and
calm down. What are some activities? What else do I need? Could be talk
at lunch about it? Could you bring me a brochure? It's all payed?!? That
was when I knew that at least some of them where interested. Then when I
got home I got messages asking about the website, my experience and
process, which just brought a huge smile to my face because I'm doing
this for them and they showed me that they want it. The last message I
got today about it was: "I hope I can go!". That is my motivation,
sharing my passion with people that have the same one, helping people
with unique opportunities. I always want to go to a Camp and last year
my dream came true and it was way better than the ones I read on book
and movies because it had my passion and just knowing that I will help
students have the feeling that I felt bring a joy and self satisfaction
to myself.
Then tomorrow during 3rd period I will be speaking with the 9th
graders. At first I was not going to tell them because I'm hoping the
the 10th grader that will go will take charge of the scholarship fund,
but maybe that won't happen and I also want to open the opportunity for
them. Another issue that I had is that I think that are still a bit
young, but Miss Kellie talked to me about a specific student that would
be very interested and it was only fair to open the door for all the 9th
graders. The way that Miss Kellie talked to me about Dennis gave me
chills, I felt like she was talking about a male version of myself but
better! And I know Dennis, he is in my advisory and I adore him, he is
just a loving and caring and not smart or intelligent, he is a every day
learner. There is no way to describe the way he loves to learn. And
when I think of him I get the memories of when I was his age and I had
this huge desire to help and I look at myself now I ask myself when did
learning become so monotone when it used to be so fun and entertaining
and fulfilling before. In a way I feel burned out but still running on
some energy because I don't want it to feel monotone and today I felt
that energy come back when I was speaking with Miss Kellie about Dennis.
My memories came back of that time in high school when I wasn't worried
about SAT, IB, Bachillerato Nacional, Colleges, Financial Aid or how to
get my GPA up; the only thing on my mind way to enjoy my high school
days and learn. And I've been trying to find that feeling in the past two
weeks and now that I have it back I don't want to let it go, because
it's my most valuable source of energy.
And choosing Dennis will be so amazing in so many levels because he is
Tico, he is a scholarship student and who knows when an opportunity like
this will come up for him again, he is like a sponge that absorbs
knowledge and uses it, he will get out of the country for the first
time, he will practice his English and will meet a different culture.
Also if he really likes it, he can take over my project next year for
CAS as a 10th grader and I can be a mini mentor and help him with the
program to send another student next year. Of course that if we choose
him there are many things that we need to consider like getting a
passport and paying for it if he needs the help and small things like
that, but I won't let money be an issue because I want the student to
feel my passion and my excitement towards this. Now I hope that tomorrow
he is interested and "applies", because it will be a great opportunity
for him. And I also need to be neutral, which is every important and
which is why I'm not the only one choosing. I hope I get as much excitement from the 9th graders tomorrow as I got from the 10th graders!
CAMP APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- Why do you want to go to the camp?
- What is your passion and how does this opportunity relate to it ?
- What makes you the best candidate to go to the camp?
- What do you hope to learn from this experience?
- How will you use the knowledge you've gained to give back to your community?
- Is there anything else you would like us to know?
- Other information to add:
- Is your passport up to date? (It cannot be within 3 months of its expiration)
- Does your passport give you permission to travel on your own?
- If you have a residency or student visa, do you need special permission from the government to leave the country?
- Do you have a US visa?
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