Change The World

Although I am hoping to volunteer at Sari, i would also like to volunteer at humain societies. At the end of January there is a pet adoptathon in london, and I am hoping to volunteer at the fundraiser, and spread the word about it.

SARI Therapeutic Riding

Changing Lives One Stride At A Time

            As many people know, horses are a very important and big part of my life. I find peace while riding my horses. There is nothing like jumping on the back of your four legged best friend, and going for a nice ride. Nothing can compare to being on a horses back. The amazing animal can teach everyone so many life values. The bond that a rider builds with their horse is incredible. Horses don’t care what you look like, how big you are, or anything like that, they care if you love them. A horse can teach you how to love, respect, believe, and inspire. A horse can teach you how to be responsible, how to be caring, and how to be willing to learn. They can teach you values, how to succeed, and how to fail. Horses are a gift that I am blessed to have in my life. I wish everyone could have the experience to ride in their life, but unfortunately not everyone gets this opportunity.

            SARI Therapeutic Riding makes riding a horse possible for many young kids with a big dream. Like many riding stables, SARI offers riding lessons to many people, but unlike others, SARI is able to offer riding lessons to those with special needs.

           

1)           My goal is to have the opportunity to volunteer at SARI. In order to volunteer at SARI an application has to be submitted along with an interview. Volunteers at SARI are carefully selected depending on who the managers at SARI think best suit the jobs.

      Volunteer opportunities include a horse leader. This is when you lead the horse around while a student is on its back. You must make sure the horse stays focused and under control. Another job for a volunteer is a side walker. A side walker must walk alongside the horse and make sure the student is safe and under control on the back of the horse.  These people are responsible for taking care of the horse before and after the lesson. This includes tacking up, un-tacking, and grooming of the horse.

Other volunteer opportunities include being a lesson instructor (giving the riding lesson). Being a horse exerciser is another opportunity for volunteering. An experienced rider is needed for this job. The exerciser will ride horses a few times a week, making sure the horse stays in shape, keeps the horse fresh and engaged physically and mentally.  More volunteer opportunities include organizing and planning special events, collecting donations and sponsorships. 

2)            Volunteering at SARI is important to me because I know how special it is to ride a horse. It is an experience like none other, I just can’t explain it. This opportunity is important to me because I believe that everyone should get the experience to ride a horse. The experience could be life changing for many. Many people have the dream of riding a horse, but many things can stand in their way. For many people with special needs, the dream of riding a horse seems nearly impossible. SARI is a non-profit organization that allows kids with special needs to conquer their dream of riding a horse. This single event can change these kids life.

      Riding horses is something that I truly value. Growing up with horses being a part of my everyday life allows me to know how amazing these creatures truly are. Horses can teach you so much, and it is important to me that everyone can at least have the opportunity available to them, whether they take it or not.

      I think being able to ride a horse is something that these kids will remember forever, and an experience that can be life changing to them. I feel it is important for me to do this because I can help change these kid’s lives, and make their riding experience enjoyable. I can help kids understand the importance of the values that horses teach us, and I can share my own personal stories with them. I think this would be a great opportunity to learn something new, change the lives of others, and make new friends.

3)           I would like to be able to volunteer at SARI as soon as possible. I think this would be an amazing experience, and can’t wait to actually start making a difference in the lives of both the students and horses at SARI.

      I would like to be able to volunteer at SARI for as long as I can. I think the longer period of time I spend at SARI the better. I would love to be able to be a part of SARI continuing into my adult years. I realize that while I am away at college or university this may be difficult, but when I am back home I would love to continue my experiences at SARI. If I still live in the area as an adult I would love to be able to help SARI out in some way. I know I will always have horses in my life, and will always have a passion to ride, and I would like to always share that passion with others as long as I possibly can.

4)           First I need to send in an application form, in which I am working on right now, and plan to have in, in the near future. I then need to be accepted, and to start the training.

      SARI is about 40 minutes from my house, and with a busy schedule my parents feel it may be hard to find transportation in order to get me to SARI when needed, if I get accepted to the program. We are hoping to get things figured out, but getting my G2 is defiantly a huge priority at this time.

      I believe that having the opportunity to volunteer at SARI would be an amazing experience. Horseback riding allows people to meet new friends (both human and horse), learn life lessons, and learn new values. I think that everyone should get the opportunity to ride a horse, and that nothing should stand in the way. I would love to have the opportunity to take part in the experience of a life time with these kids. I think it is important for someone to be there that understands their excitement, their fear, and emotion while on a horse for the first time. I know there would be many emotional, educational, physical, and social benefits for both me and the students at SARI. I there are already many people at SARI that share the same passion as me, and I would love to be able to share the experience with them, and help change lives one stride at a time.

#13 Gratitude

This chapter of Me to We really makes you realize the important things in life. Many people (including myself) take things for granted. We worry about things that truely are not as important as life in general. The story of the 9/11 was really touching. It really makes you realize how fast you could lose you life, and the things that are truely important. It was great to read that the most important things to everyone at that time are close friends and family, although something tragic had to occur in order for everyone to realize it.

Start Now
1) I Am Grateful for:
*My Friends       * Education
*My Family        * Leadership Class
*My Horses        * Music
*My Dogs           * My Bed
*Clothes              * Technology

2) I Am Gratefuul for some amazing people...
* My Mom                        *Caitlin
* My Dad                          *Shelby
* Wynter                           * Grandma(s)
* Mr. Tompkins                 *Grandpa(s)
* Larissa                            * Aunt Tara

#12 - We are Midway To The End ... but im a little late...

Leadership has been such a great experience for me. I have learned so much about myself this semester. I feel like I have grown to get to know, and work with others a lot better. I am more comfortable talking to new people, and others in the class. I am able to take on tasks around the school that I would never have if I did not get the opportunity to be in leadership. I have learned that everyone has a story. There is a reason that a person is the way they are. I have learned how to deal with people in different situations. I have learned to just be myself, and I have learned that the simpilest things in life are amazing, and not to take things for granted. I know I will continue to learn things right through the end of the semester, and even after exam time. There are so many things a person can learn and Im not sure what else this class will bring, but im sure it will help shape us all as people, and we will carry the lesson on in our life just like everything else we have learned in leadership.
I feel there is still tones of room for improvement. I think there are so many things i can still learn and try to be a better leader. Things like steping up and taking on any task, things like facilitating, talking in large groups, and understanding where others come from.
I wish this class was not almost over! I love it so much. If only this class went all year... I am really going to miss it next semester!
I hope i am becoming an effective leader... Im not really sure what kind of leader i am to tell the truth. I hope that I am an effective leader, meaning that others appreciate what I am doing, and respect what I do.

#11 Haunted House

I ended up missing the actual haunted house, as I was away for the week. It sucked that I could not be there, but i heard it was a huge success and everyone worked very hard to pull through and make it so great! I was able to participate in the ideas, the design, and part of the set up of the Haunted House, as well as the take down.
Project Design Skills: I helped bring ideas to our room. I worked with those in my group and brainstormed ideas that scare me, and others in the group. I helped think of things that we should do for our room, and who should bring in what. On the Monday, I helped set up our room (hanging things, setting up walls). When i came back from Ohio, it was time to take down (the following Monday). I helped take down, and put away the entire changeroom how we found it. This included taking down objects, taking down and putting away fake walls, picking up garbage ect.
Identifying and Dealing with Barriers: A Barrier that my group and I faced was deciding which temporary walls to put up. I personally felt that we should do one thing, along with a couple other of my group members, but another member felt differently. I think this was a barrier someone else created as that person went against what our group had already discussed and decided on. I knew this was a barrier we were facing because there were disagreements within our group and we could not agree on what we should do. We ended up testing the wall that the other person wanted. We told that person that it we run into it and hit it, and it doesnt fall, it should be safe enough to use. It ended up passing out 'test' so we let him do what he wanted to do in the first place. I think we worked together to come to a conclusion.
Interpersonal Skills: Although i was not there for most of the 'project', i was still able to help out. I felt i was pretty good at listening to what others had in mind, and wanted to do. I was willing to use their idea, and or combined them with my own, and with others in the group. Together we put forward an even better idea for the haunted house.
Understanding and Working with Diversity: There are people with many different personalities, believes, fears, and ideas in our class. I tried to understand where others were coming from, and consinder how their ideas could help benefit the haunted hourse. I understood that everyone has different idea, so we tried to include everyones ideas.
Self Assessment Skills - I only was able to participate in the clean up and take down of the Haunted House. I feel bad I was not able to do more, but i also learned a lot when i was away. I would give myself 5? I dont feel like I was able to do much as I was away for 4 days of the process.
Congrats to the rest of the class for pulling off such a successful haunted house:)

#10 - Marc's Story (Chapter 2 - Me to We)

I thought that Marc's story was also inspirational. I thought that Marc's story was told in a way that many people could feel passionate about. Although Marc faced many of life challenges, one being a working student, he tells us to work through it, take the path that we feel is right, and work even past the end of the tunnel.
Marc came close to reaching failure. He was able to acknowledge the fact that failure was right infront of him, but was able to make a change and make the first turn onto a new road. Although he wanted to give up, and run back home, Marc decided to take another shot at life in Thailand, and was inspired by a young, poor 'steet child' to keep on going. If this boy had not have encouraged Marc to stay in Thailand, then Marc would have failed.
I think Marcs story is easy to relate to or look at with our own life, because we all come to a crossroad serveral times in our life where failure is up ahead, or a chance for opportunity is on the next road. Marc took made a turn/change towards something he felt was right.
I thought Marcs story was inspiring because it teachers us to reach out further then we thought we could, and to make your own decisions, but allow others to influence and inspire you for the better.
"What kind of legacy do you want to leave"...

#9 - Craig's Story (Chapter 1 - Me to We)

I thought Craig's story was ispirational. It is hard to believe that someone so young can accomplish so much at such a young age, and in so little time. I think Craig not only inspires myself, but many other people as he proves that one person can help change the world.
The stories that were told about child labour, and those who were involved really hit home. They make you stop and realize how lucky we are, and how we must help those in need. Craig decided to step up, and speak out. With the help of his classmates, and school community, Craig began to change the world. He had an opportunity that sat close to his heart, and stuck with it. He truely is inspiring, and teaches us all to never give up, and do what we feel is right. Go for what we believe in...
I think Craig's story will help others understand that it is important to help others. We can only make this world a better place, if we do our part in helping it. It is not going to happen on its own, so take action, and try and make a change. Big or small, any positive action towards and for others will help make a difference.
Craig lets us know that just because we have a Prime Minister, that doesnt mean he is going to do the work for us, or even do the right things to help make a change. We may not have a big name, title, or company behind us, but that doesnt matter. All we have to do is take action, and try to make that change, and hope others will follow in the same direction.

#8 If You Really Knew Me

I thought this episode of If You Really Knew Me was really good. I found it emotional, and very interesting. I felt that i could relate to some of the teens in the episode whether it be me facing the same difficulties, or knowing someone who is. Some parts of the episode i felt that they were almost staged. I still thought it was a reallly good episode, and that it touched many of us in the class.
This school is different from IDCI because i don't feel like we have as many 'clicks'. I do realize that there are clicks, and they are hard to not have, but at the school in the video, i felt like there were tons of clicks, and that clicks did not get along. I feel like here at IDCI we dont have as many clicks, and that even if you are apart of a certain click, most people still talk to people in other clicks, and get along with more then just the people theey hang out with. I honestly dont hear as many Rumors here at IDCI as shown in that short video. Of corse there is Rumors here, you cant avoid them, but I honestly dont hear as many...
IDCI is similar to the other school because there are students in both schools that have to face so many difficulties. Everyone has a story here at IDCI and at the school in the video. IDCI is also similar to that school because it is a place of learning with bullying, rumors, tragity, difficulties, and some fun.
I think the overal concept of challenge day is a really great idea. I think that fact that random students can come together and discuss their problems, as well as meet new people is very benificial. I think the concept of challenge day is awesome because I know people who face difficulties, and people who just need to talk. I think challenge day can help many teens from school to school, and helop change the lives of many.
I would enjoy being a part of challenge day because i think it would be an amazing experience and opportunity to meet new people, and tell and listen to teenage problems. I know that many people face these problems, and its always nice to have someone listen and understand. I think that if I had the oppprtunity to participate in challange day i would. The only reason that would hold me back would be the fact of opening up to people i dont know, but i know thats a part of challenge day, and what its all about, so i think i would take the chance to do so.
IDCI is investing time and money into challenge day because they know how great of a program it truely is, and that it will make a huge different in the lives of those who participate. IDCI strongly believes in bonding, trust, and making a difference. I think that IDCI is spending time and money on challenge day because they want to make sure that everyone in the IDCI family is safe, and healthy. It is a good experience for everyone, and gives students a chance to make a change.
I think that Challenge Day is a really great program and that anyone who gets the opportunity to participate in it is very lucky. I think it can change the lives of many people, if they take it seriously. I know people who have or are facing problems that are terrible, and I think that if they had the chance to participate in challenge day, their lives could change. Challenge Day is a great way for kids to realize they are not alone, and that things can get better!