another life changing experience

Well, as I look back on such a wonderful year I cannot believe how quickly time has gone and what a short period of time I have left to serve in my reign as Miss Pioneer Valley. This week I was able to do so much with the many kids that I love seeing on a weekly basis. I went to the Boys and Girls club of Midvale to continue with the Dance4Life program again, and I have to brag for a quick moment......

I did not realize how important this program was to these teenage girls. This was the third time I had visited this group and already they knew my name! They seemed comfortable with me, they were excited to be there, and most of all their eyes lit up when I walked in the door - it really touched me. They worry a bit and feel insecure when we are together so I'm working to help them overcome some of the self esteem issues through the Dance4LIFE program. Afterwards, the girls were all so polite in thanking me for coming, and then asking when I was coming back. Some of them even said they would love to continue the program through the summer - which was neat to hear. It just made me realize that serving others with your talents really does have an effect on the lives of those you serve and those around you. Particularly those who really deserve it and often times don't have opportunities to benefit from it. I feel although I don't know these girls very well I have made a special connection with them and hopefully made an imprint on their life as they have mine.

MAY!

Hello Everyone! 

I have been super busy the last couple weeks. It seems as if almost everything is coming to a close for the summer. The studio I teach at is having their end of the year concert, the Jazz season is over, and school has finished. I have been volunteering a lot here in the valley. I had the chance to go to Walmart, who are big donors to the Children's Miracle Network, and I was able to sit at a table and try to get more donations for the drive that they do each year. It was fun to be able to meet different people that walked by, I was able to introduce myself and tell them what CMN is and what I was there doing for them. I talked with some kids as they passed by and it was fun to see how interested they were in what I was doing. I even had one little girl, come back and give a donation. I had some time to read about the history of the hospital while I was there and It was fun to see how long ago the hospital came about and the things that people wanted to do to help the children who were in need at that time. To see how far it has come, the difference that it has made, and all the challenges they have over come is really neat. I am a weekly volunteer up at the hospital and I haven't really had time to sit and think how important the Children's Miracle Network is and how critical the hospital is to our community. It saves more children' s lives day in and day out than we could even think of. I think it is important for us all to realize the needs and care that these children need each day. As hard as things are right now with the economy, jobs and money please donate your time and or a little donation to this organization that truly needs your help. It will make the biggest difference in a child's life! 

More Fun !

Well, this week has been full of lots of fun. I have been super busy with lots of community service and platform implementing. Not only that but being able to relax a little, dance a lot and not worry about school. Yeah! 

I had the chance to go to the Midvale Boys and Girls club this week. I met with the Teen group and they were an awesome group. All of them consisted of girls in Junior high and I always feel that they are the hardest group. Well this time they proved me wrong and they showed me up in their dancing skills. They had a lot of fun doing hip hop and learning to groove. I talked with them about a positive journal writing and gave them little journals to write in. They liked it so much that they asked me to come back again and start to even come on a regular basis to start implementing dance4Life and make it a program at the club. I am really excited about that because I wasn't expecting the turn out to be so good. 

I also had the opportunity to go to Costco and Help to fundraise for Childrens Miracle Network. Since we have our own children's hospital that is based here all the money goes to Primary Children's. It was fun to stand there and meet everyone that walked past. Not only that but most of them donated to the cause and got a sucker out of it. Even in the hardest of times in this economy people are still willing to give. That's what makes this world a better place. So thanks to all of you who donate and contribute to Charity's! Keep it up! 

Dance classes

Today, I was able to implement my platform even farther. I went to the Boys and Girls Club of Murray and did a dance class for the kids there. I was again so impressed that the Boys and Girls Club of America really tries to maintain a good and safe place for the kids. The facility was so nice; it had two different awesome gyms, and three different departments; a teen department, a youth department, and a pre school department. They have one side for walk in kids daily, and the other side is devoted to the school kids from Murray. They serve about 200 kids daily. I was able to work with both boys and girls. I talked to them about the three key factors to achieving your goals and the importance of those factors in our lives to continue on a positive path in life. The girls enjoyed the dancing more than the boys, but the boys were really good at freeze dance, a game I played with them after I taught them a dance. We are working to develop the program further at this club on a continuous basis each week. Additionally, I contacted the Boys and Girls Club of Midvale and will be going there next week to teach dance and introduce them to the Dance4Life program. I cannot believe the response I have recieved from these clubs and these great kids. They seem to really enjoy it and the fact that I am able to volunteer and make their days better by doing what something I love is so wonderful!

I will post more pictures on the next post!