Giving Back in a Big Way.... Potentially

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLELUJAH   HAAAAAAAAAAALLELUJAH!

     Yes, that is the sound of angels singing to the amazing idea I had the other day.  As I've stated, next summer's bike ride proceeds are going to go toward a special surprise for someone.  BUT, the year after that.... *insert genius, commendable idea here*... dun dun dun DUUUUUUUUUUN: I'd like to start an annual scholarship [fund] for a graduating senior from my HS that is going into college with an arts-based [visual, literary, or performing] major.  A daunting task for sure because I know I'll have to raise a HELL of a lot of money to start an endowment and such--but if Obama can get millions of dollars by single dollar pledges, then "Yes, I can" too.
     There are so many things (as always to my schemes) to get done to make this happen.  I guess it's because I tend to think go big, or go home.  Firstly, I have to get in contact with the persons who would know whether or not my HS will be running in a few years.  Like many state-funded educational institutions, it has had its fair share of financial cuts, budget amendments, etc.  There was talk that this past school year would be its last--but it's still kicking!  Once that is done, and if there is a positive outcome of the conversation, I have SO many more questions that need to be asked.  Like, "How in the HELL do I even go about starting a Capital Campaign for a scholarship?!"  I've got a few ideas of how the whole process should happen:

1) Ask school representatives about its health/staying open for at least 5 years... 10 years... 15 years...
     if bad news, stop here or ask another, local school
     if good news, proceed to step two
2) Ask a financial advisor/tax advisor what steps I have to take in order to go about creating an endowment
3) Approach local businesses and community members with proposition of donating toward the scholarship
     endowment fund via personal contact and publicizing the SHIT out of the recital and what it's for, etc.
4) Create criteria for the scholarship applicant(ion) [this will actually happen well before this point, but it
     needed to be put somewhere]
5) Implement said scholarship plan! :)

     Yes, I'm only 25 and should probably be worrying about other things, like what I'll be doing after I graduate from Grad School.  Trust me, I am.  Opera applications, along with Arts Mgt & (soon enough) Junior College and Fine Arts Schools' voice faculty applications are strewn across my desk at home.  I've got [many] plans, but I'm not going to corner myself by only having one career path in my future.  I prefer to be well-rounded and be able to do a lot of things within a field that I love, whether it's performing (which I'll always do), teaching, or advocating/working behind the scenes as an administrator.

Here's to making a difference.

Back to School

Thus starts the second [and last] year of my Masters degree; and the first day, thankfully, wasn't an indication of how the semester has been going (for 2 weeks).  On my way to school for the first day of class, I blew a bike tire, then my first class was with one of those professors that is a genius (which means I couldn't follow 90% of what he was saying), and after that I had a shitty audition for the opera department.  Luckily, everything has been going upward, for the most part, since then.

This blog, my injury & true joy from cycling and adventure, along with other factors, really have been a launching pad for me.  Because of these things, I am even more dedicated to making this annual trip (from where ever I live) home.  I not only want to create for my hometown an opportunity to hear great music of genres that they normally wouldn't hear, but I also want to raise money for different causes that are near & dear to me.  I have devised a sneaky scheme--with good intentions, mind you--for my next recital in my hometown.  I shant reveal the theme for the next year because I'm hoping to surprise someone for whom I care.  I will tell you though, that I am not the only artist on the bill; a good friend of mine, and possibly a few others, are breaking out some old school material we did back in HS (and some new stuff) just so we can all have a good time while raising money for great causes.  So suspenseful, I know, and I promise it will be an amazing [potential] show, surprise and blog entry when the time comes. 

I realize after hurting my knee before & during my trip that I need to take a bit more care of myself and not attempt to be Super Woman, blowing everyone's (and my own) mind with outstanding distances and physical feats the entire trip... it can lead to some devastating & long-term injuries.  I need to balance it out, as far as knowing when I can or should push myself & when not to, and compensate for the weight I'm carrying by giving myself a little extra time (not to mention for wrong turns too!).  It's just very difficult for me to not give 120% all the time; it's in my blood.  I'm not looking forward to wearing a compression sleeve the entire time next year, so I need to take the proper steps to heal my knee (even then I may still have to wear it to keep from re-injuring it).

I'm so excited to raise awareness and funds for so many different worthy causes.

BRING IT.