Monday, May 26, 2014

Dreams Don't Only Exist In Fantasy


Hello, my name is Michelle Zhou, a dreamer and a believer. My life long dream so far has been to study abroad in Japan for a year, and I know money won't come by easily, but I need to try everything to get one step closer to my goals. :)

 I have always been interested in other cultures and history in general, I love learning about how the world is connected as a whole and each event in history links to another.  I would like to visit another culture and experience their life style head on, so I can understand them and see things from their point of view. From a young age I have always been entranced with the Japanese culture, yet I never really did anything to fulfill my curiosity. I realized that while I have the chance, I should do something about it, so I decided to study abroad.

 A whole new culture will cultivate me and make me into a better person. I haven't experienced so many events in life, and studying a year abroad will force me to step out of my bubble and out into the real world. One day I hope I can use my experiences to change to world for a better, perhaps something small like help one Japanese immigrant settle into the American culture, or perhaps I might even become the Japanese spokesperson for America and help thousands of people.

15,000 dollars is a lot of money, and my parents are in a difficult financial situation at the moment, but I believe that no matter what circumstance you were born into, you can make anything possible. In a way, I love my "dreamer" trait, because it allows me to be optimistic about any situation, but you don't show for it if you are only a dreamer, you also have to take action, and that is what I decided to do right now.

So far I haven't been able to get a part-time job, but I am doing odd jobs here and there and doing everything I can to earn the money. I sell my artwork, being gifted with a slight artistic talent. I do yard sales, bake sales, and can collecting. So far all these fundraising efforts are going slowly, but I know it will work if I work harder with my goal in sight. Even knowing that my parents will not be able to support me financially, I feel blessed and privileged for being born into this culture and having the ability for being able to work to make even the tiniest amount of money, yet I know I can't do it myself. I would appreciate it if you can support me, if only just a little bit. Even one penny goes a long way, and if you decide to donate a penny, I will value it. Because I know that, that penny is one step closer to my goals.
 
AFS has been so kind to suggest a method of fundraising to help me accomplish my dreams. This is an online fundraising tool provided by AFS to allow potential sponsors to make easy, secure, and non tax-deductible contributions to my AFS program fee


To sponsor my AFS program, please click the Donate Now button to make a non tax-deductible contribution directly to my AFS program account.

Apparently you aren't able to donate on this blog until the year that I participate in it, but you can donate here to help me raise money until then.
http://www.gofundme.com/steponetomygoals


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