So Close!

Once again, I've neglected to keep this as updated as I once did, and I apologize. However, I have some great news.

I'm getting closer to having the tuition for the conference. While I'm not sure of the exact numbers, its very close. I'm very fortunate to have such a supportive family that was willing to help me out even when my own community either neglected or was not able to. I plan to have all of my payment in on the 15th of March, fully registering me and guaranteeing my spot as a National Youth Correspondent representing both my school and the state of Maryland.

One of my newest ideas was for a fundraiser, something that I hope will be a success so that there won't be so much stress on my family to come up with the rest of the tuition. I recently learned that the local bowling alley does fundraising events for interested parties, and if I were to get about 24 people to participate on the same night for my cause, I would raise enough to not only pay for the rest of my tuition, but set aside money for anything else as well.

This spring I plan to revamp my wardrobe for the conference (that means actual skirts and blouses - so professional!), and I'm very excited to have the opportunity. Every day it gets closer and closer to the summer, and I honestly am counting down the days until my drop-off at George Mason.

136 days. In four months and some change, I'll be standing in the halls of George Mason as a rising senior, a girl representing a small town in Southern Maryland among 249 other students. The thought itself is surreal. Just to think that this is an opportunity for me to not only shine, but to have contacts for the future - it almost seems like the time should go by faster just so I can wake up tomorrow and start packing.

This is definitely going to be the greatest week ever. I can't wait!

Thanks as always for reading,
Leena

Attempt #2

There's only so much hope in the world before you realize that you're not getting a response.

It has officially been a month since I appealed to the local businesses of Charles County and abroad for small donations to go toward my conference tuition, and not a single one has replied as to whether or not they would be able to contribute.

What's strange to me is that if this were a college acceptance I was waiting on, at least I'd be guaranteed to get some kind of message. But nothing.

Registration for the conference officially opened 5 days ago, and due to the fact that a full payment of tuition is due upon making the final decision, my chances of getting in are slimming down. I have yet to actually contact any DC businesses though, and hopefully I'll be able to have some luck with them.

Basically, it's about $285 holding me back from the experience of a lifetime. I say this because ever since I got the letter in the mail from George Mason, I've found out just how supportive my family is. They're willing to go above and beyond to help me out, but the reason I'm appealing to all these businesses is because I wish they didn't have to give so much.

If I could get a few major sponsors, not only would I be able to register sooner, but it'd be less of a burden on the ones I care about.

I have until the 30th of March, and I will be sending more letters. A lot more. I'll be posting more blogs. I'll record more videos (even if the original ones were horrible). Somehow, I'm making it to this conference, and I'll continue to use this blog as a way to keep everyone posted. Right now, its just proving to be a little more challenging than I expected.



Thanks for reading,
Leena

Letters, Letters, Letters Everywhere!

Today is the day, even though it's almost 11pm and I'm wide awake.

Today, I wrote and prepared my letters. Being a resident of "Chuck County", a little more than half of them aren't going any farther than La Plata or Waldorf. But I am also sending my little packets out to the lands of NYC and Tennessee, just to see if I will have any luck with finding sponsors.

So far, I have contacted the following people/businesses:

• American Legion
• Steve Harvey
• Tom Joyner
• Elk's Lodge
• Charles County Woman's Club (Until last year, I wasn't even aware that we had one)
• Ken Dixon Automotives
• Board of Ed
• NBC News/Studios
• WUSA 9
• Kane of Hot 99.5 FM Radio
• The Maryland Independent
• Fox 5
• The Washington Post
• Dollar General
• Safeway
• Shoppers Food & Pharmacy
• Hot Topic Inc.

I also plan on doing some research in regards to retail stores, and possibly some local restaurants. Tomorrow I will be taking a trip to the post office to drop off the 10 letters that I currently have ready to go, and I will be also trying to figure out how to complete my Master's Research project in Photography that's either going to require me having access to some rowhouses or interesting looking subjects.

Looks like it's going to be a busy day, but I can't wait to get started!