Think Ahead!

Wow- Time sure does fly when you're having fun! Who would have thought that the day to write my final blog post would have arrived already. It's been 3 short months since I wrote my first blog post sharing myself to you, and now, here I am deciding what to do with myself in the future. It's scary just thinking about! Well first I'll have to get through Grade 12 but then there's getting my license, university, finding a decent paying job, buying a house and maybe even having a family of my own! I know, I know- you`re thinking whoa slow down there! And that`s probably the way I should be- enjoying one day at a time.

Like a lot of teenagers today, I`m not quite sure what I want to do as a career in the future. I have an interest in the environment and I love Biology and Chemistry so if I end up being a mad scientist in a lab coat, I wouldn`t be surprised. I am a good student in school which also opens up a lot of different opportunities. My mother always says: ``That means good news and bad news. The good news is, your marks can take you anywhere you set your mind to. The bad news is, your makes can take you anywhere  you set your mind to and you`ve got to figure that out.`` Determining what to do with your life is a lot to ask of a 16-year-old girl trying to get through high school! I suppose I still have one year left to decide. For now, the clubs I am involved with and the volunteering that I do are what is mostly on my mind.

Recently, I`ve continued to try to be involved in my school by auditioning for the spring musical- something I`ve never done before. I know that if I continue to put myself out there and take these sort of risks, in the future, when I look back at what I`ve done, I`ll be able to smile and laugh at all the memories. I think that`s my main goal for the future- I want to remembered as someone who wasn`t afraid to take a chance. Whether that means volunteering around my community or taking on a leadership role at school, I won`t be afraid to be adventurous and take a risk here or there.

All and all, this whole blog assignment has been a great experience. It`s forced me to realize the sort of things I`ve done as well as read about what others have too. I`ve learned what wonderful resources are out there, such as TED and Twitter, and how they can be used to impact change. I hope you`ve liked reading my blog posts and I look forward to seeing everyone in the future! MUN here I come!

Tweet It!

To start things off, I must say I haven't been caught up in the whole Twitter world(Facebook yes!) so this was a learning experience for me. Who knew that Twitter wasn't just for "following"(more like stalking!) famous celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, but also for keeping up with the latest movements and acts of change! Twitter has opened up a new world for organizations and stars to get their missions and messages out to the public by just a click of a button.. amazing, don't you think?

1.Severn Cullis-Suzuki (@SevernSuzuki)
Severn Suzuki, daughter of environmental activist, David Suzuki, is a Canadian environmental activist herself, as well as a speaker, television host and author. She is popularly known as "The Girl Who Silenced the World for 5 Minutes" after she spoke in front of United Nations representatives at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. At the age of 9, she founded the Environmental Children's Organization (ECO), a group of children dedicated to learning and teaching other youngsters about environmental issues. By the age of 12, the group had raised enough money to travel to the Earth Summit to bring attention to their cause. It took extreme courage and passion to stand up to all those powerful adults and tell them that they've been ignoring such an important issue- the environment. Every time I watch her speech, it empowers me to want to do something. She was only 12 and had already made such an impact whereas little, old me has let the years float on by. Be sure to check out Severn's twitter account at https://twitter.com/#!/SevernSuzuki and see what she's been up to lately.

Also here is the speech that started it all...

2. Rick Mercer (@rickmercer)
Good 'ol Newfoundland born native, Rick Mercer is a Canadian comedian, television personality, political satirist, and blogger. He is most known for his part on This Hour Has 22 Minutes with "Talking to Americans" and in recent years, for hosting his own show The Rick Mercer Report. Rick knows how to have a good laugh and loves to poke fun at politicians and governments. Every week on his show, you'll see Rick try something new, whether it be bungee jumping with Rick Hansen or walking the edge of the CN Tower with Jann Arden. He's not afraid to do anything, and that includes speaking his mind. Part of his show incorporates a RANT segment. Most recently, his RANT on Teen Suicide sparked public attention.(*see video below) His way of speaking is direct and to the point, making his messages that much clearer. Rick is trully inspiring in the sense that he can balance the fun and the serious issues that others are scared to address. Check out his twitter account at: https://twitter.com/#!/rickmercer Wouldn't we all want the life of Rick Mercer.

3. UNICEF (@UNICEF)

Every since we had to carry around UNICEF boxes while Trick-or-treating on Halloween, UNICEF has been apart of my life. Founded in 1946, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. The money raised, goes towards relief efforts to provide emergancy food and health care to those who need it most. It's a great cause and something definitely worth donating towards because there is always going to be children who are suffering; lowering the numbers are what's important. Check out their twitter page for more info: https://twitter.com/#!/UNICEF

And in conclusion of my exploring of the Twitter World, I now understand what all the hype is about. There are some pretty empowering people and organizations worth following and keeping up to date with! Who knew!

What I'm Into

Volunteering and being apart of groups or clubs has always been a HUGE part of my life! I never like to sit idle when there is something going on; I'm just not that kind of person. Some say it's just being nosy and trying to look better than everybody else, but this is usually coming from those who do nothing other than go to school, eat, sleep, go on Facebook/Twitter and play video games. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with all that, but there's so much more out there to do in addition to those things! The activities that I'm involved with, were never to be nosy or "out-do" anyone. It was more to make new friends and experience the world outside school and home.. corny, I know. "Spicing It Up" is all about taking risks and putting yourself out there, so that's what I've been trying to do all along.

Wouldn't everyone love to say that being a leader is easy! To be that leader you need to have people willing to follow under your lead. From experience, I believe that the best way to do this is to get your name out and show people who you are and what you can do. Getting involved in different kinds of activities doesn't hurt either! Some days you might see me in the gym with the badminton team. Other times I could be tutoring a student in the library. And at the annual Christmas and Spring concerts you'll always find me proudly wearing my blue, band shirt playing my clarinet along with the rest of them. Every year is a busy year for me!

I've already mentioned in another blog posting how I use to be involved in a group called "Circle of Friends". This was back in elementary school but, it was my first crack at feeling how volunteering can pay for itself. Working with disabled students was always a challenge because you never knew what they were going to throw at you, but that's what made it special. Every day with them, taught me something different. And the best days were when I could get them to laugh and smile. :)

It may come with having a little sister, but I've always loved working with kids. At the library I volunteer with the Junior Reading Club, and in the summer, at Killdevil Camp. I've learned that I've got to watch what I say and do because to those children, I can be seen as a role model. It's such a great feeling when a younger child feels comfortable enough to come up to you and ask a question, for example. When I was a kid, tall people were scary! It took me ages to gather up the courage to ask a question or for help! So when a little one approaches me or tells me I'm doing a good job, it's the best feeling in the world!

At school, my role I suppose, is that of a leader. I'm a member of student council. I'm not the president or anything, but I've always been actively involved in spirit days, fundraisers and other school events. I'm a leader in the school band, helping out the younger and the less experienced players. And academically, I've always been a leader when it comes to tutoring other students in various subjects. I like tutoring for the fact that I have to be able to explain how to do something to someone else. It can be extremely difficult at times! All and all, I like the challenges being a leader brings on.

Growing up I was never involved in piano lessons, guides or cadets like most kids seem to have been. That never really bothered me, especially now when I've just dived head first into everything else. Recently, I've even started taking guitar lessons. There's always something new to learn or something else to get into. Who knows, by next year I could be training to be a mountain climber or want to be apart of the latest mall, flash mob. I don't necessarily have to be involved in a world-changing movement, just the involvement part is important to me. You'll never see me sitting idle and I think that's the way it should be.