Change

Change
From the beginning of my volunteering career with El Pueblo Inc. in Raleigh N.C. to my immense activism with the Dream Act on my college campus, I feel like I have a drive to create change and help people feel somewhat empowered about making a positive difference in this world. Through reading many books and articles about environmental, political corruptions, and spiritual issues, I have came the conclusion that there are many problems in the world that we live in and attempting to solve every individual issue seems idealistic and somewhat dreamy. However, after searching for a job, I magically stumbled upon Full Cirlces Foundation. Once I read the website and what the camp represents: girls empowerment, sustainability, and economic justice, I realized this was the answer to my prayers and  what I want to do to make a difference in this world and from that point on everything made sense to me! Full Circles Foundation helps at-risk girls in Raleigh by providing them a free summer camp and transportation and educate them about the mission statement Full Cirlces represents. After the first camp at Strong Home camp in Umstead Park Raleigh N.C., I realized that making a true and pure difference in this word starts with education and teaching the younger generation about how important it is to love our environment, to love our neighbor and to love ourselves. I honestly do not know where I could  make such a huge impact at if it wasn't for this wonderful, new, and exciting organization. Instead of traveling to Washington D.C. to work on Capitol Hill for an internship, I decided to stay in Raleigh N.C. (where I was born and raised) and seek to help and mentor wonderful and strong girls of this area. Now, I know what it is to work for a new non-profit organization that was completely made by scratch (thanks to Marcie Hawkins-Smith and a couple of other amazing people), I have learned a lot about life, to work for an organization, and to feel empowered through the work I do for myself and for others. I am also learning the  meaning of sacrifice. Every morning, several of the full time instructors wake up at at the break of dawn, pick up the campers, and catch the public bus before the camp starts, and we do it all over again in the afternoon with the same big smile and positive attitudes. We love our campers and respect them in every possible way. They teach us new things every day. The satisfaction of mentoring another human and teaching them any possible useful information you know about being empowered and making a difference is a feeling that can never be replaced. This experience is an energy that is manifesting into something beautiful and unforgettable everyday I get to see the smiles of my co workers and the innocent eyes of the future leaders of America.  

Full Time Instructor at Full Circles Foundation
-Joanna E. Banegas