A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

Posts tagged ‘United Way of San Luis Obispo County’

Toss The Match

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

It will not be long before I begin my United Way grant project. One extremely important message that I want to be sure to let the students know is that they are able to do great things. Good things take a lot of time and a lot of effort. Sadly, it seems like many people in our society look for the Easy Road.  In fact, there are people who will spend tons of time and effort pursuing the Easy Road, rather than buckling in for the hard work it takes to create something of value. This is misleading and damaging to our youth.

Melinda’s Message #1:

Work hard to create something of value.

This hard work can take a multitude of forms—from studying hard to become the best student they can be– to recognizing a need in their community/world and dedicating their time and effort to fill that need.

This is my belief: Kids have tons of energy, creativity, joy, passion, and love inside them. They want to be able to help people; it makes them feel value. When kids give from their hearts and feel their lives have value, there is no stopping what they can accomplish to make our world better for all of us.

Sorry… here is Melinda with the “Raw” truth again.

“Work hard students.”

I am sure some students will want to run and hide, but there will be those kids who have kindling inside them… just ready to ignite…

Can’t wait to Toss the Match!

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” I Timothy 4:12

Prayers for Morgan...

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Literacy, Advocacy, Awareness, Accountability

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

I received some excellent news today from the United Way of San Luis Obispo County. My program, “Literacy and Advocacy Youth Challenge” has been selected to receive a 2011 Youth Board Grant! I am really, really, really excited about this because it means I will have many opportunities to share with students.

What I proposed for my program is to place five copies of Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery in twenty schools throughout San Luis Obispo County, and also speak with the students. For the very first time, students will learn from a survivor what childhood cancer really is. Kids love the world of fantasy— Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter for example. I believe it’s good for children to also get a dose of some harsh reality of life as well so that they are able to become compassionate individuals. I know that many will be shocked by the harsh reality that a child can get cancer and shocked by the harsh reality of what treatment is like.

Notice the word “Challenge” in my title? Yep, I plan to hold a bar as high as I can in front of them and challenge them to use everything they have been given to reach it. I want them to know that fourteen year-olds (and younger) can write books.

“Gosh, if she can do it, I can too!”

Perhaps even more than motivating them to write, I want to challenge them to become an advocate of something. You know very well that I will use this opportunity to tell every student I speak to about childhood cancer and why I am passionate about raising awareness and finding a cure. I will leave it up to each individual to look within themselves for what cause moves their heart to action.

And guess what?

Part of my program is accountability.

The students will be reporting back to me about the actions they have taken as a result of my challenge.

Literacy, Advocacy, Awareness, Accountability… sounds great to me, and I am excited to get started!

With my sincere thanks to United Way of San Luis Obispo County!

Still Rejoicing in Braden's Miracle!

 

Prayers for Breanna and Crista. Praising God for miracles!

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