Friday's Charity: Doing it Yourself

Sometimes you hear those uplifting stories on the news or read them online. Stories about a kid, teen or adult doing something to make a difference. Planting a garden, setting up a meals-on-wheels program or raising a money for a good cause. And you think, how can one person make a difference? Where do they build this up?

Well I found a great Web site if you're interesting in starting your own small charity or if there's a cause you feel needs attention.

It's called DoSomething.org and I think it's a really great stepping stone for teens to get involved in charity work. Especially in doing something that holds great meaning for them. All you have to do is apply for a grant at the Web site. As far as I understand they give out a grant a month of $500. That doesn't seem like a whole lot of money, but it's enough to get a project started.

You can also donate to DoSomething.org, and they have sponsors that will donate if you shop at their stores or online.

A lot of people who've I've talked to about my volunteering have been older, and they've been very surprised and impressed that I am volunteering. And while it's nice to be praised for it, it's also a little depressing that this is their reaction. Should it really be such a big deal to give back a little time to help others, no matter your age? Are we so self-involved as young adults that the mere fact of simple charity work is something to be impressed by? Everyone should at some point in their lives stretch out a hand (or two) to those in need. It doesn't take much. All you need is a little bit of time or even just a little bit of money to make a difference.

About A Book: "The Fountainhead"

Finished book No. 12 just the other day, and even though it took a while to get through I really enjoyed it.

The book was "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. It's a bit hard to explain all of the intricacies to the book but it is about an architect named Howard Roark and the struggles he faces in order to be an individualist in an increasingly collective society. He wants to follow his own path and make his buildings the way he envisions them with no outside influence. This becomes increasingly hard as every group, contractor and builder wants to have their own say in how the buildings should be created. There's also Peter Keating, the exact opposite of Roark. He has little talent and relies on the help of others to rise to the top in the world of architecture. And there's, of course, the love interest: Dominique Francon. She is the perfect woman for Roark and their relationship is certainly an interesting one as she fights to live in a world that she doesn't feel lives up to her standards and stifles her own individuality.

The main theme of the book is Objectivism, Rand's own philosophy. It consists of Metaphysics: objective reality; Epistemology: reason; Ethics: rational self-interest; Politics: individual rights and capitalism; and Aesthetics: metaphysical value-judgements. It's actually a bit hard to explain and easier to understand once the book has been read, but it's a very interesting philosophy. I also really like the character of Howard Roark, he's supposed to epitomize the perfect man, and I think in many ways he does.

That's what makes the book a bit difficult to understand and read, at least it really makes you think when reading it. Often times I had to set the book down just to contemplate what I had read. I'm also sure I missed a lot of the underlying themes and motifs. I feel it would take more than one read to understand everything Rand is trying to convey.

But it was worth the read, and I'm definitely going to read her other masterpiece: "Atlas Shrugged."

Up next?: "Rise and Shine" by Anna Quindlen

To live an old dream or create a new one

Haven't updated lately. Guess I've been busy/lazy. But I have been thinking about the future. My mom told me to update my resume the other day and I've also been gradually looking into graduate school.

And I'm ready for 'it', the real world. But of course I'm not ready to leave Penn State. A few co-workers when finding out I was a senior asked if I was excited to get out of school. Hell. NO. I love Penn State too much to want to leave, but I know it will come to an end. But I still have a year, so not too soon.

But with graduation less than a year away, I have to start really thinking about the future. And it's a difficult situation because of both the economy and the troubles newspapers are facing. Grad school is looking like a good idea and I know what I would study if I went: Library sciences. Yet, at the same time, I feel like grad school would almost be giving up on my dream. Why go study something completely different than journalism when since middle school I've known that was the field I wanted to go into? What would be the point of four years on the Collegian, four years of studying, living and loving journalism to just go on and study something completely different?

I feel like going to grad school would almost be giving up on my dream. I could go into journalism when I graduate, but after four years of studying something different I wouldn't want that time to go to waste by not doing something related to my grad degree.

All I've wanted to do for the longest time was to graduate and move to Brooklyn and work on a newspaper or magazine. Copy editing, writing, whatever I'm offered really.

And when fall comes and then spring, too. I'll try everything and take the best offer. But if I get into grad school and get offered a job copy editing a paper in N.Y. (or even Boston or Philadelphia) I think I'd take the job offer. Sure I'd love to put off diving into the real world a little longer and continue my education. But then I feel if I don't go after my dreams now, they may slip away and possibly be replaced by new dreams. And new dreams are great, but I don't think I'm willing to let go of the ones I have now in the hope that new ones will come along. In the end everyone has an opinion. But mine is the most important.

The future is mine alone and I have to choose for myself what direction to go in. And whatever opportunity looks like the one that will help me to follow my bliss is the one I will reach out and take -- even if the salary isn't great, even if I'm in an old warehouse converted to loft in seedy Williamsburg as long as I am doing what I love to do, that's what will matter. I just hope the opportunity presents itself to me, because I don't want to have to settle for less than what my heart desires.

For the love of New Jersey

I love my dear home state for all the trouble it seems to enjoy getting itself into. I mean, seriously, people rag on the 'armpit of America' enough already. So why not give 'em more to talk about? But in all honesty, I love it. We Jerseyans are pretty tough, pretty corrupt and absolutely awesome. I mean we have a reputation to uphold and we do it well.

In case you live in a hole or just don't watch any sort of news media, read THIS.

An FBI official called the corruption "a cancer that is destroying the core values of this state." Well what does he know? It's not a cancer per say, possibly the cause. But then again, they say too much of anything will give you cancer. And maybe it's better N.J. has cancer from corruption instead of crime or pollution (well, not that we don't have a nice amount of that, too).

And know that in New Jersey only the strong survive, and if you're from the Garden State be proud of it -- and all it's corrupted beauty. Because really, there's no place like home.

Money, Money, Money Must Be Funny in a Rich Man's World

Went out to lunch and on a boat ride today with my mom's friend Patty. It was a really nice time. The boat took us around the Naples bay where all the wealthy Neapolitans live. And oh boy do they know how to live. The houses were ridiculously fancy and the prices? None less that $7 million. The most expensive? A mere $90 million. Oh and that starting $7M is just to build the house, not to buy the lot on which the house will sit.

It was pretty interesting to see and gape at yet at the same time Patty voiced exactly what I was thinking, "I wonder how much the Three Cups of Tea guy could do with the money spent to build these." (See this post for further clarification) And the people who own these houses don't even live in them most of the time, they're just "summer homes" (though usually occupied in the winter months).

We also saw a bottle-nosed dolphin! It saw up beside the boat and was jumping in the water - so that was really cool to see. We spotted lots of Pelicans, too.

But for all that rich and famous lifestyle gives, I'd rather live in an apartment in Brooklyn than in a multi-million dollar home on Naples Bay.

Something to Look Foward To: I'm on a Boat

Tuesday I will be joining a friend of my mom's named Patty on a boat tour around Naples. It will leave from a little market down the boulevard from me called Tin City. The cruise itself is called Double Sunshine Sightseeing Cruises. We're going to grab lunch at Tin City before we head out on the 1 1/2 cruise. The boat will make it's way past all the "natural beauty, wildlife and history of Naples." It goes past mangrove islands with lots of exotic Floridian birds. And, fingers tightly crossed, we may even see dolphins and/or manatees! There's also a bar on board, and since Patty has been so kind to me I think a margarita or daiquiri might be in order. I mean it gets so hot in the afternoon, we'll need something to keep us cool.

I'm also pretty excited to say "I'm on a boat *&%$#!" (The content in that link is not suitable for those under 18 or more than 40 [the 40 because they might not find it funny, but offensive.] because of explicit language.) I won't actually voice this out loud, but I may think it.

Time is worth more than money

Most of them are much older than my 21 years. They have shorter hair, softer looking in shades of white and grey. Most are quick to smile and have more energy than I can muster on a daily basis, especially before I've had the chance to down a cup of coffee. And they help out, unselfishly on their own time and for a reward of simply the satisfaction of helping others. The volunteers at Literacy Volunteers of Collier County that I have met so far have been kind, welcoming and show a great enthusiasm for what they do.

Their students are most middle aged men and women, yet the tutors seem to think of them as their own children. Praising their accomplishments and pushing them to do better and try harder. One tutor, new to LVCC, came in on Saturday with a wide smile and much more energy than I. She introduced herself with a flash of a smile and set about looking for an unlocked room for her tutoring session. She talked animatedly saying that "her girl" should be in soon, and that she was always a little late but such a great student to have. I helped her find a unlocked room and the hidden light switch as she talked about how nice it was to see such a young person volunteering. Then her student showed up, she thanked me and they got to work.

The rest of the afternoon went by peacefully. I basically sit there and read and help out those in the lab if one of the computers acts up. They always thank me before they leave, usually in halting English and that's what makes you realize how valuable the tutoring actually is because it gives the students confidence. Without that they may know more English than they let on but also may be afraid of speaking it because they fear getting it wrong or looking ignorant. Confidence when learning a language is very important.

I actually don't know much about each volunteer, what their background is or where they are from, but many of them seem to be older residents, who are most likely retired but making the most of their time by helping others. They could live comfortable lives in the lush gated communities that pepper Naples. They may not have many worries, at least not the kind their students would have. But that's not what matters when you walk in the door, it's not who you are or where you from it's that you've taken time to help and to care. The volunteers there are more than just a few cans of food or an anonymous donation (not that those are bad things, really) but they are giving of themselves the one thing we never seem to have enough of these days and something that is more valuable than paper bills -- their time. In times of recession many people are watching their bank accounts carefully and it's understandable, but you can give back without even opening your wallet. Simply volunteering your time a few hours a week can make a difference in someone's life.