Volunteer Reflections: Merry

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Merry, a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team.

¡Hola! My name is Merry, and I am one of the interns on the Social Media Team this summer. Working with Starfish for the past couple of months has been nothing short of incredible, but upon being given the opportunity to pen a short blog post about nearly any topic of my choosing, I balked. I thought about it for an embarrassingly long amount of time. What kind of insight could I--a rising junior in high school, almost-seventeen-year-old, mediocre driver, avid traveler--share with you all? Maybe, I thought, I could share with you how, and more importantly, why I’m here: my own personal Starfish story. We all have one; here is mine.

I first learned about the Starfish Foundation a little less than two months ago, as an ambassador at the HOBY PA East Leadership Seminar 2015. Beth spoke to us as a member of one of the panels, and it was immediately clear that she was no stranger to the type of crowd gathered before her that day. Having listened to panels and discussed leadership from the morning into the afternoon, we ambassadors had good enough reason to be a little tired, perhaps distracted, even uninterested; it may sound cliché, but when Beth spoke, we were captivated. She spoke with infectious passion of co-founding a nonprofit after returning from a year of volunteering, and of the emphasis Starfish places on education for future success. I experienced a moment of--this is true? This stuff can happen? I can help out, make an impact, shape a future? Really?

When Beth reached out in search of summer interns, I contacted her as soon as I could. But why? I have a busy enough schedule. I’m dancing almost seven hours a day, six days a week. When I’m not dancing, I have physical therapy sessions nearly every other day. Junior year is approaching fast, and my desk is laden with stacks of SAT practice tests, summer assignments, and textbooks. Why did I fill out that application the moment I found out it existed?

 I think it’s because, as Anne Frank so eloquently put it, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Even taken out of context, this quote stands true. Despite the business of our schedules, the tumult in our lives, the hundreds of day-to-day plans and problems and chores and errands we have, we still want, and need, to be and do good. Not simply because we should, but more so because we can. By volunteering our time and skills, we at once give and receive some of the longest lasting gifts; in Starfish’s case, we give students chances to further their academics and discover their interests while allowing their families to focus on providing for themselves. In return, volunteers receive so much--experience in every aspect of the word for sure, but more importantly, the single most rewarding feeling in the world: the gratitude of students and their families.

 This feeling of knowing I can make a difference in someone’s life with the skills and passion I already possess is what caused me to apply for this internship. It feels not overwhelmingly good, but also overwhelmingly right. Incidentally, I think you’ll find as you finish reading this post that all of our stories are extremely similar. I think you’ll find that, at the end of the day, we all want to throw a few more starfish back into the ocean.

Volunteer Reflections: Ariana

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Ariana, who is a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team. She co-created the first ever Starfish podcast!

A month ago, I was riding in the front seat of my dad’s truck heading to the equestrian center and looking out the windowing thinking about how it was going to be an outstanding day. It was the day that I had been looking forward to since I graduated pre-k, because it was my high school graduation day. The 45 minute car ride seemed to take hours. The hour wait to walk in side by side my fellow classmates seemed to take days. But, when I was finally on the stage, the minutes, hours, days, even years of anticipation would not have prepared me for the rush of emotion nor realization that was about to hit. 

For 13 years I went to school challenging myself to learn something new everyday (because if you aren’t going to learn anything, why go?). Each morning I’d get up with my sister and we’d talk to each other, laugh, eat breakfast and then grab our lunch and head down to the bus. 13 years of the same morning routine boiled down to one day of importance.

As I looked out over my 400 or so classmates, I thought back to all the lessons we learned and friends I made and thought, man, this is going to be a good life. Then it hit me. Yes, its going to be good life because I know most of those people, because my two best friends were sitting out in the crowd, because the group of people before me are going to do something to change the world. But, after graduation, I am only going to talk to about 7 or 8 of them. No, the reason it is going to be a good life for me is because I have something that I truly treasure and that will help me in the future, that’s my education. You see, in the crowd of the students where the teachers. They lined the sides of the rows looking at our smiling faces with both prideful smiles and tear filled eyes and I couldn’t help but thank them silently for the hard work they put in it. Education is a privilege, and sadly, it’s not one that everyone has.

 I started volunteering at The Starfish Foundation by being a pen pal. Through that, I got to know a wonderful girl in educator who had huge aspirations for her future and was so excited to be going to school. “I chose to go to school because it helps me learn simple things that will help my future and help my family” was one of the very first things she told me and it was a humbling experience. Here in the USA we go to school because we have to. In Ecuador, they go to school cause they want to. The value of education, in some of our minds, is equal to dirt. But, the value of education in their minds is equal to gold, and it is rewarding to know.

Volunteer Reflections: Holly

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Holly, a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team. 

“I hate school. I hate Mondays. I hate waking up early.”

“School stands for Seven Cruel Hours Of Our Lives.”

“School is like a prison.”

Admit it. So many kids in American education system have had these thoughts. There is an evident lack of motivation to excel in school, especially among students in economically depressed communities. In 2010, social researchers observed 11,000 seven-year-olds and found that those with parents in professional level jobs were at least eight months ahead of peers from the most disadvantaged homes, where parents were often underpaid and unemployed. Studies from the New York Times, the RSA, Harvard, and much more have analyzed similar situations. There is substantial evidence that the children attending school from impoverished environments are prone to less motivation and resources to succeed. This triggered something in me because school is huge part of my life and doing well in it has been a constant goal for me. 

Why is school so important though? Why do we need to be motivated? Ever since I was little, my parents ingrained in my mind that learning, understanding, and even grades were essential to success. As I grew up, I questioned what “success” was and what school had to do with it. So after some consideration, these were some thoughts I had:

 The classroom provides the students the exposure to be curious and develop the opinions that will push them to shape the world in their perspective. Our teachers and peers alike expose us to diversity and which inevitably leads to appreciation. Whether it is through science, literature, or a vocation, education fosters the creativity for us to pursue our own personal projects. And success is unique to every individual, but the branches of it all come stem from our education.

Fortunately,  in America we provide our scholars with numerous programs, laws, scholarships, and equipment for our students. The U.S.  education system can be truly exceptional and provides mobility to anyone who has the passion to change a chunk of the world. With No Child Left Behind, programs for students with disabilities, scholarships for minority students, and so much more, there are many opportunities to succeed.

This is why the Starfish Foundation exists to grow education in places with fewer opportunities. School in Ecuador is free; however, the students themselves pay for all the supplies and uniforms, making it impossible for some families to send their children to school. There is not a lack of motivation, but a lack of resources. Programs like the Starfish Foundation facilitate education for children who are in desperate need and want of it. We can turn donations into priceless opportunities for one scholar at a time.

So why education? It is the tiny spark that leads that turns the gears to our future.

Volunteer Reflections: Amy

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Amy, who is a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team. She helped to coordinate our recent webinar!

I am incredibly lucky. I am about to complete my third-year at a prestigious, liberal arts college where opportunities are just waiting for me to take advantage of them. I have access to excellent academic resources, faculty, and study abroad options at my fingertips.

I’ve also been fortunate enough to attend and volunteer with Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) for the past four years. Through volunteering, I was able to meet and hear Beth speak about Starfish and learn more about her cause. Every time I hear the statistics and realize how many Ecuadorian students don’t have the opportunity to reach higher education I’m shocked to the core. These students have the same drive to learn as I do – it is only outside circumstances that prevent them from attaining their goal.

When I learned of the internship opportunity for Starfish, I knew this was my chance to help. I was already aware of the extreme poverty that these students were dealing with, and working as a volunteer intern for this organization was my way to get involved as much as I could from my small hometown in Pennsylvania.

 I am so excited to be working with other volunteers to increase awareness of an organization that puts education first. I cannot imagine a life without life-long learning or access to the educational system that I had previously taken for granted. I was one person in a crowded room of people, inspired, after hearing about The Starfish Foundation. If I can make a post on social media, urging people to learn more or donate to the cause, and one more person gets involved, I will have succeeded. As an intern, I want to give the gift of education to these scholars as it was given to me and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so.

Volunteer Reflections: Lindsay

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Lindsay, who is a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team. She creates videos for our Youtube page!


In life, we have three options when we see a problem. We can ignore it by hoping that someone else will fix it. We can accept it by assuming that it can’t be fixed and move on. Or we can be the ones who take the initiative to solve the problem, no matter how complex and difficult it may be. Working for the Starfish Foundation so far as taught me how to take the third option, and be the leader who makes the change.

I love learning about Latin America. From the four years of Spanish class I took in high school, to the Anthropology class I took in college, to my first trip to Costa Rica in 2014, learning about the culture there has always been something that has fascinated me. Maybe that’s why when I heard of the Starfish Foundation, it was immediately something that peaked my interest. It took my two great loves, Latin America and helping others, and brought them together.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I was very unsure. I had a burning desire to be a leader and make a difference in the world, but my fear of failure was almost strong enough to diminish that flame. At the end of my sophomore year, I attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar in Maine, and suddenly, my fear started the fade. Eager to learn more about how I can make a difference, I attended the World Leadership Congress the following summer in Chicago. It was there that I heard about the Starfish Foundation when Beth spoke about how HOBY inspired her to start this nonprofit. It was after my HOBY experience that I knew that I had what it took to make a difference, and I started to become interested in working for a nonprofit.

Along with my love for Latin America, I am also very passionate about education, specifically education rights for all. Malala Yousafzai is one of my idols because of her passion for learning and speaking out for girls having the right to an education. I believe that everyone should have the right to an education, no matter who they are. To me, this includes people with disabilities. During my senior year of high school, I volunteered in a Life Skills classroom with students who severe disabilities. That was where I fell in love with Special Education, and decided to make it my major in college at the University of Maine at Farmington, along with a minor in International Studies. My dream is to someday bring these two together and work with students with learning disabilities in foreign countries to ensure they are able to finish school.

In my Anthropology class, I had to pick a topic relating to Latin America and do a research project on it. Naturally, I decided to study the education system in Latin America, with a focus on Special Education. I was disturbed to see that there wasn’t a lot of information on this topic, which is because Special Education isn’t a huge focus right now in many developing countries. With the cost of school so high and unattainable for so many families, students with a disability aren’t going to school because so many feel as if it “wouldn’t be worth it” for them. I want to eliminate the stigma of having a disability, and teach students how to embrace their abilities, rather than let their disabilities control their life. This would include identifying the student's’ strengths, while also working through their weaknesses with an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), to ensure they finish school.

I hope that by working with the Starfish Foundation, I am getting my foot in the door with a nonprofit so I can someday work with one as a career. I love what Starfish stands for because it also stands for exactly what I believe in: one by one, we can all make a difference in the world if we work together.

Volunteer Reflections: John

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from John, who is a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team. He is working to create the first ever Starfish podcast!

 The world’s most precious commodity rests on the availability of opportunity, whereas its greatest tragedy involves a lack thereof. An opportunity in and of itself cannot propel individuals to success. Instead we have to grasp opportunities with both hands, take a deep breath and dive in. Life can be a mental game, and our mentalities are shaped by our experiences and dispositions. This reminds me of a quote by Henry Ford: “whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.”

Education proves the validity of this principle more so than any other discipline. With education, young adults and children dare to dream, to overcome obstacles, to succeed. In short, an education has quickly become a precious commodity. The #HumansofStarfish demonstrate this mentality and beyond. These youths grasp at and crave educational opportunities. They do not fear hard work, but savor it; they do not bypass obstacles, but face them head-on; they do not relinquish opportunity, but grasp it with both hands, take a deep breath and dive in.

Génesis aspires to “complete my teaching degree and teach children from kindergarten up to 7th grade…I want to continue my education so I can be someone in life.” She passionately grasps at her education and wishes to teach and elevate those that come after her.

Joel serves as an inspiration to everyone presented with an opportunity for greatness: “getting a scholarship for [one of the most prestigious universities in Ecuador] was a real challenge for me. I had to do all sorts of tests and interviews. During one of them, they asked me about my father's salary, because the scholarship only covers 60-90% of the fees and they knew he couldn't cover the remaining 10%, which adds up to about $350 a month. After all that, I ended up receiving a 100% scholarship. It was such an incredible moment for me and my family.”

 William takes pride in graduating from high school, but he also understands how the Starfish Foundation changes lives, “they’re creating a lot of opportunity. I’m really inspired by the kids, and their future; I want them to keep moving forward, and if I can help them with that in any way, then all the better.”

All of the members of the #HumansofStarfish are more than deserving of the educational opportunities presented to them, and all of them take full advantage. Imagine how many more success stories the world could write if we could expand the number of educational opportunities. We have to dare to dream, to aspire, to strive for the impossible. Together we will build a better world, one opportunity at a time.

Volunteer Reflections: Katrina

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Katrina, who is a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team. She posts about our many friend organizations!

I am a 12th grade student who attends a high school with almost 1600 students; is a part of the National Honors Society, Student Government, Key Club, and more; receives a free public education in a suburban area with the dream and possibility of attending a four-year university; and comes from a family with two college-graduate parents and a 7th grade sister receiving the same education I am receiving. I share the same opportunities with many middle-class American students and, sometimes, we do not realize how lucky we are to have these opportunities available to us. 

The Starfish Foundation is one that I am very interested in, simply because of its motivation to benefit underprivileged youth in Ecuador so that they can achieve their very best. Its goals, plans, and achievements of providing for those that cannot provide for themselves have really opened up my eyes to realize how lucky I am that I have what I have. Many students at my school, myself included, take for granted the daily routine of waking up, riding a bus or walking to school, having teachers to say good morning to, attending first block and then second block, eating lunch in the cafeteria for 30 minutes where plenty of food is provided, attending third block and then fourth block, and then taking a bus or walking home from school. 

As a high school student, I always hear the same old “Ugh, why do we have to go to school tomorrow?” or the “Homework is so stupid--what is even the point?” or my personal favorite, “It’s so not fair she gave me a C on a test with things that she didn’t even teach us!” Here, we have been attending school for twelve years and, in the midst of all the standardized tests, the numbers of scores, the pressure of sports and clubs, and the concern of the letters on our report cards, we have forgotten how lucky we are to have all of those things to worry about every day. My wonderful opportunity to serve as an intern at the Starfish Foundation provides me with a greater insight of issues and circumstances worldwide, and has truly made me more grateful for the everyday things I have access to instantaneously. I have been handed so much in my life and I am thankful for the opportunity Starfish has given me to give back. Thank you and peace.

Volunteer Reflections: Sarah

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Sarah, who is a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team. She writes our Motivational Monday posts! 

“Service” is one of the most meaningful words to a volunteer. When I hear that word, I immediately think of the incredible experience I’ve had volunteering, especially for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Buddy Poppy Drive. This year I stood outside Walmart,  greeting and encouraging customers to donate in support of our troops. This project hits close to home, as my Sergeant Major father is a Vietnam, Gulf War, War on Terror, and Army Reserves Veteran of 42 years. I love not only having the opportunity to fundraise to help soldiers I’ve never met, but I also have the chance to instantly connect with strangers and make them smile. I want to offer my service because I’m so inspired to give back to the men and women who so willingly sacrifice for my freedom.

The moment you dedicate your life to service is the moment you realize how much the world needs your kindness. I’ve always believed that with each special encounter during service projects, you share a part of your heart that can never be regained–that’s the beauty of volunteering. The idea of giving something away, such as your time, skills, or enthusiasm, is the selflessness that service is all about. But what inspires me the most about service is that while you’re giving to others, you’re actually gaining something back—it’s the gratitude from the people you’ve touched with your kindness.

That gratitude is so uplifting, delicate, honest, and pure. Once you’ve shared your heart through service, you feel the desire to share more, learn more, and do more. You become the best version of yourself when you take the time to experience life from the perspectives of the people you’re helping. By simply making the decision to offer your kindness to others through service, you are reaching people’s souls and reminding them that good really does exists.

Volunteer Relections: Saumya

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Saumya, who is a member of our Summer 2015 Social Media Team. She manages our brand new Tumblr!

I never thought that I would love the field of education as much as I do today. Education for me used to just mean getting up early in the morning and going to school. When I started my first year of college at the George Washington University, my eyes were opened through different tutoring and mentoring programs that I worked with. Education is the one of the rare things in this world that won’t be exhausted no matter how much you use it. Usually, the more of something you give to others, the less of it you have. But such is not the case with education. The more of it you give to other people, the more knowledge other people have to give to others. If you have a torch of knowledge, you can light up that torch for others, and they can light it for more people, and so on. That is the beauty of education. 

I certainly believe in investing in the power of education. When you help someone get access to good education, you help them help themselves. Education gives you the tools and knowledge to step up from your past, and build a better future for yourself. These thoughts exactly have been my motivation to work on education for others. We’re always talking about how there are many problems in the world, and we’re looking for leaders to solve them. Giving someone access to education means that that person can go on and use their knowledge to change the world for the better, and maybe even inspire others to make the world a place for the better. There is a saying that says, if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man how to fish, you feed him for life. So why should we invest in education? Well, if we want the better world that we seek, and if we want better standards of living for others that we seek, then we must seek a way to give people proper access to a good education. 

Volunteer Reflections: Zainab

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Zainab, who has volunteered with our Social Media Team since December 2014.

May 2014. My life changed. I attended the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership conference (HOBY) where I was taught the necessary skills to be a successful leader individually, in a group setting, and in society. At this outstanding conference I met Beth Awalt. She introduced the group of over 200 eager sophomores about her non-profit, the Starfish Foundation. 

The magic of HOBY!

I have always enjoyed learning about different non-profits and how I could be involved with organizations that help with education, poverty, civil rights and the environment. I was an active volunteer for the non-profit Enabling Minds, which shares similar goals as Starfish in education children in underdeveloped countries. 

Beth shared her story filled with passion and excitement. A few months after HOBY, fall of 2014, Beth asked HOBY alumni if they wanted to join her team and help promote The Starfish Foundation via social media. I jumped at this opportunity. I loved being able to see the pictures of the students in Ecuador, reading about them on the website, and telling everyone about the amazing work that the Starfish Foundation is doing. 

I hope one day to visit these students whose pictures I've seen and stories I've read. Thank you Starfish for giving these children a chance to grow and become successful through continuing education. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to see their smiling faces and hope that one day in the future I can make a similar impact on the future.

Volunteer Reflections: Laura

Greetings, Starfish supporters! This summer we are especially excited to share the reflections of our current cohort of Starfish interns, who are supporting us in our social media and fundraising projects. Today's post comes from Laura, who has volunteered with our Social Media Team since December 2014.

In the 8th grade, I visited Ecuador, having taken two years of Spanish classes, and I was so timid that I  never spoke a word of Spanish. Many of my friends ordered food in Spanish from the restaurants we visited or at least thanked our tour guide with a poorly accented but enthusiastic “muchas gracias.”  I flat-out refused. For me, language was a thing you studied in class to get a good grade, not a rich, varied aspect of a vibrant culture. I can’t say I’ve grown a lot wiser since my trip, but I can say with certainty what I’ve learned-what you study in school doesn’t end with a grade.

As a general rule, I don’t believe in turning points or epiphanies when it comes to life lessons. There wasn’t an education deity that suddenly whispered in my ear and opened my eyes to the truth. However, my journey was most definitely aided by my recent internship at the Starfish Foundation.

Within the first few weeks of working with the foundation as a Social Media Intern, I began to notice instances of Starfish Scholars and their keen appreciation for learning. For my posts, I read quotes and thoughts from students, some the same age as myself, and took note of their clear and ambitious dreams. Maybe in Guayaquil, where a good education is not guaranteed for every child, students are more aware of how significant an education really is. Starfish Scholars do well in school, to be sure, but their motivation is more than a desire for good grades. They want to learn new things for the sake of learning; they want to do new things with the education they receive.

The people who apply their education to real life are the ones who make a change in the world. We’re lucky to be living in an era of social change, where the injustices of the modern world are being brought to light and resolved. Just as important, however, are the changes that occur on a personal and community level. These are the changes of the Starfish Foundation and its participants. It has truly been an honor to learn and write about these exceptional students on a weekly basis.

I hope to visit the Starfish Foundation in a year, after I finish high school. Ecuador is too bright and resilient a country to pass over, and I can’t wait to witness it to the fullest extent. And you can bet that when I visit, I’ll be ready to speak in Spanish.  ¡Ya estoy preparada! --Laura