Small Doses of Charity That Help in A Big Way

Due to traveling every weekend in April, I was unable to find a charity event or a fundraiser to participate in this month. However, knowing my busy schedule, I started trying to contribute in small ways in place of one big event. So instead of writing about one non-profit this month, I wanted to share a list of small ways you can contribute throughout a period of time if you find yourself not finding one specific cause to support!

[If you see "Start here" under an item, a link is provided to help you get started helping in that way.]

1. Donate that $1 at the grocery store:

I know at some point you've been at the grocery store checking out when, in that moment before it confirms your total, it asks if you want to donate to something. I've seen many causes, the most recent was a charity that feeds underprivileged children. I know sometimes these requests can come at bad times, but if you think about it relation to what you're buying, that $1 is probably cheaper than everything on the belt. You won't even notice it in the long run, and if everyone did it, these organizations could raise a lot of money.

2. Go directly to the source:

If you are really drawn to helping the homeless, you are able to help in very convenient ways. Keeping bottles of water in your car, along with a couple of granola bars can go along way for that person you see on the side of the freeway exit, or that man asking people for money at the gas station. Just like the $1 at the grocery store, if you buy these extra things when you go grocery shopping yourself, it makes it seem like less of a hassle. If you're concerned about the dogs of the homeless, keep a small bag of dog food in your car and a plastic bowl you can give to the owner to share the water. Either way, a little bit goes a very long way for these people and animals.

3. Set aside $5 to donate to someone's GoFundMe or a natural disaster:

I can't tell you how many GoFundMe's I see on social media now. Admittedly, some of them are for less-than-needy causes, but others are really someone's last try for help. If you budget in $5 dollars a month, when one comes across your timeline that tugs at your heart, you don't have to feel guilty. $5 may not seem like a lot, especially since some of these people are in need of thousands of dollars. Again, if everyone put aside $5 a month to donate to someone in need, it would add up very quickly. If you know you can afford more, then do what your heart tells you! This is also a good place to note that it doesn't ever matter the amount you give, especially when so many of us struggle with finances ourselves. It's still $5 more than they had before. Additionally, GoFundMe is also a place you can donate to natural disaster relief funds. 

Start here

Nepal Earthquake Relief GoFundMe

4. Donate blood:

Donating blood is one of the most popular ways to help out and fit it into your everyday schedule. A lot of businesses and schools hold the blood drives. Ask your local community college or university when their next one is if you aren't registered to donate regularly. Donating blood instead of money is one of the best ways you can help if you are not in a financial place to donate money. It's one of the most selfless things you can do for another person. If needles scare you, commit to finding 5 other people who can donate! Spread the word via email or social media, and you will still have done good for the community.

Start here

5. Donate old clothes or electronics:

I have a couple of trash bags I keep in my room that are designated to hold any clothes I come across throughout the month that I no longer wear or want. Once they are full, I donate them. Try to make sure they are in decent condition, as we don't want to create a hassle for the volunteers at the organizations who take the clothing. There are also places you can donate old PC's or laptops to - some that distribute the computers around the world to help educate under developed countries. This is a quick, easy way to make an immeasurable impact. 

Start here

6. Sign up to find out about future events or ways to help:

If you are like me, and travel a ton, and are always on a budget, signing up for an e-mail list is a great way to make that first step in becoming involved with one charity. If you are sure of the one you want to help out, but can't make the next event or donate at that moment, keep yourself involved by adding your name to their e-mail list. Forward any e-mails that you think would interest your friends. Spreading the word can end up being more beneficial than a simple donation.

7. Walk to your favorite park (or beach!) and pick up trash:

Instead of watching that TV show you're so addicted to, take that hour or two and walk to the closest park to your house. Bring a trash bag, some gloves, and a friend and pick up any trash you see. Not only will this help out the city, but it will make your neighborhood or community cleaner! Bringing a friend will help pass the time and can double as an opportunity to catch up. 

8. Recycle:

One of the oldest, easiest tricks in the book. This would be an especially cool way to help out the community without much effort if your workplace or household doesn't already do it. Go buy a cheap trash can, or even set aside a cardboard box and label it "recycle" and put it by the trash can. Most people will recycle if the option is there. Team up with some other employees to get the recycle plan going.

9. Write a 5-star Yelp review:

I do this all the time for my favorite small businesses. If your favorite non-profit organization (or your favorite for-profit organization that regularly participates in community activities) has a Yelp page, write a raving review. Yelp is one of the first pages that pops up in a Google search. Contributing to a good star count and shedding positive light on a great organization can be the make it or break it for a future donor or activist! 

Start here

10. Research!

Take an hour and research what's around you. Just like signing up for an e-mail list, educating yourself on the places around you will help you be able to designate your time and money in the future. There are countless non-profits that people don't even know about. Awareness is the biggest way to make a non-profit successful. You never know when your local gym or restaurant will be looking to team up with a good cause and you can insert a shameless plug for a local non-profit!

Start here

Challenged Athletes Foundation: Where Impossible is Actually Nothing

On March 8, 2015 the Challenged Athletes Foundation and the Roth Group held a Grit Cycle-lead fundraiser spin class. I stumbled upon this incredible event because I attend Grit Cycle's normal classes about once a week. The event was held on the pool deck of the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, California and from start to finish was executed flawlessly. Riders had a choice to donate $100 and ride for one of the two offered sessions, or donate $200 and ride for both sessions for a total of one and half hours. Both options set up a successful fiscal outcome for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

The spin class was the usual Grit-styled sweat-pouring workout, but the special guest riders are what made the this particular spin class extra special. There were bikes set up around the instructors from Grit, with some particularly awesome riders. Bill Walton had a stationary set up for his bike where he could ride to the beat up front, while three of the Foundation's athletes rode along with him. While we did not get to hear all of the athlete's stories, we did have the pleasure of hearing one speak, when we learned he had lost his leg in Afghanistan while deployed for the U.S. Military. 

I had anticipated something inspiring from the speaker, but I had no clue just how much cooler these athletes are than me. The speaker went through his story of how he lost his leg, and then hit us with a casual, "and then I completed an Iron Man 22 months later." Excuse me? My jaw absolutely dropped and hit the ground as I attempted to piece together what kind of timeline that meant for his recovery and his training.

Challenged Athletes Foundation gave him the opportunity and the tools to complete that Iron Man, and has continued to give him more opportunities to set newer, bigger goals. As he said, there isn't something they can't help you accomplish in their view. I mean, the man completed an Iron Man for pete's sake.  It doesn't get much harder than that. He said he probably would have completed an Iron Man eventually had he not found CAF, but it would not have been nearly as soon. He explained how the Foundation is like a family, and it's not a one-time type of deal. All of the athletes involved have some type of physical challenge, that some may see as a barrier to living an active lifestyle. CAF does not see it that way. As their mission statement describes, "[t]he Challenged Athletes Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life." As someone who participated in youth sports growing up, and who finds exercising as my escape, I can whole-heartily agree with that statement. 

CAF is based out of San Diego, California and they hold many interactive events that allow you to contribute to the Foundation either through time, money or both. Their athletic events are composed of everything from triathlons to cycle events, while just this past weekend, they held a Gala to honor the legacy of Robin Williams, who was a long time supporter of CAF. 

This foundation is the perfect cause for especially athletes to support and get involved with. If nothing else, take a moment to visit their website to gather some inspiration for when you feel like you cannot accomplish something. I hope to attend more CAF events in the future so I have the opportunity to hear more of the athletes' stories. Although I only contributed $100, and about 3 hours of my time, I left the fundraiser with far less excuses than when I arrived, and I know this experience will inspire me in all my workouts and other challenges to come. 

homesickness is not a sickness at all.

The first two weeks of my trip were spent with one of my very best friends and her best friend, who I also grew very close to in the short time we spent together. We explored Paris together and they helped me settle into and fall in love with Nice. So naturally, when they departed last Wednesday, I felt a serious sadness that I was only mildly anticipating. I felt alone and all I wanted was to once again feel the comfort of having a piece of home with me while abroad.

Even in just a short 14 days, I was experiencing some homesickness. Not for the things I anticipated: In-n-Out, Del Taco, the familiarity of my dad's voice or the incredible view I get when I turn from Newport Coast onto Pacific Coast Highway. No, I was simply homesick for the presence of my loved ones and the security they give me. I wanted to look up and see my best friend making her potatoes or see my other friend cracking her Heineken. I even missed the crowdedness of their suitcases.

When I expressed this to some friends that day, attempting to receive some comfort, I had a few responses that were similar: "but you're in Europe! You can't be sad", or "you'll forget about it tomorrow when you're in London." My internal reaction to these statements provided me with the deepest lesson I've learned in my few shorts weeks across the Atlantic Ocean.

Travel is not just about what you see in that place. It's not just about the wonderful people you meet, or the delicious food you are able to indulge in. Travel is not just about bringing your mom a magnet that says "Paris" or the perfect Instagram photo you capture in front of a twinkling Eiffel Tower.

Travel is also about self discovery and acknowledgement. And in my opinion, that's the best part.

You see, this trip has made me realize that travel shows you not only who the foreigners are, but through them, who you are. You don't get to start choosing what and who you do or don't miss. You just simply miss those people and those things. Or when you're in an uncomfortable position and you realize how badly you would kill to have a working cell phone. And that it's not wrong to want a working cell phone. We can't all be characters from Into The Wild.

Most importantly, I'm reminded that the only thing that matters is who you're with. You can be across the world in London, but if you're alone, it can hardly matter.

I've learned that spending a Saturday night watching the Diamondbacks on my parents patio gives me just as much joy as the mojitos I drank in Cannes.

I've learned that spending an hour ranting about politics with my dad on his couch can beat out an Italian dinner on the French Riviera.

I've learned that drinking beers with my sisters in Nashville makes me just as happy as touring the Palace of Versailles.

I've learned that I would trade in any international plane ride for an afternoon with my grandparents.

I've learned that seeing my little cousin grow up beats anything travel can provide.

This is not to say I'm not appreciative or having the time of my life. Because I am. I'm still a gypsy. I'm still going to travel. I'm going to travel especially for the homesickness. The farther I travel, the more I crave home. I'm not wrong for missing my family and friends when "I'm in Europe" or "I'm going to be in London". I'm simply just learning.

I'm having a moment.

About a week ago, I decided to just do it. I turned in my application and paid my deposit for my study abroad program in Nice, France. I texted my dad and simply told him "I'm going to France. Just turned in my app, paid my deposit." He replied "Wow. Cool" or something of the sort. And then I called my mom, and told her "So I just wanted to let you know I'm going to France for a month to study abroad." and explained the trip in some detail to her.

Fast-forward a few days, and I'm on the phone with my best friend, Ashlee, and she tells me she wants to come. In a few minutes, we have dates decided and flights picked out. We start discussing plans for the two days we are in Paris, and the 7 we are in Nice together. We book a hotel in Paris.

Fast-forward a couple more days, and I'm on the phone with my dad, going back and forth about whether I should book a round trip now, or wait to book the return because I'm not sure where I'll be flying out of.

Then it hit me.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Is this actually my life? These are real, CASUAL conversations I have had over the past week? The fact that I get to decide in such a nonchalant moment to "go to France"- WHAT? And then I call my parents, and literally get nothing but 100% support and a couple "how exciting!"'s?

My life is unreal. I can't even explain the level of blessed I am. To have these opportunities, to live this life. I have to take this moment, write this out and realize this is not normal. This is not what 22 year olds, or anyone for that matter, decide on a random Wednesday. But this is really my life!

I mainly write this to remind myself how incredibly lucky I am to have the family I do. If it weren't for their unwavering support for all my ridiculous ideas (move to California at 17, take out enormous student loans, move to an apartment on the beach, apply to law school, actually GO to law school when I'm already in massive debt, take out more enormous loans, go to France for a freaking summer!) I would not live the incredible life I do. I can honestly say I've never been without. And I really don't even mean financially. My grandparents can't wait to get my phone calls, even if all I have to tell them is that I am still alive, still breathing. My parents are with me every step of the way in everything I do. No one has ever told me to do something more realistic or to stop "dreaming so big". And on top of that, I have support from more extended family members than I can ever sit here and name. I get to be whoever I want, and they support it. What is better than that? 

I pride myself in living life to the fullest. Sometimes I know I should slow down, but why? So I can wake up in five years and ask myself why I missed out on that trip to France? or why I don't have a law degree? That lifestyle would be impossible without my family. I'm just blown away that I spend my days in Downtown San Diego, sometimes my weekends are spent in Las Vegas, sometimes in Laguna Beach… I really do realize my life is not the norm. Sometimes I'm sure I don't deserve all these blessings, but I know I am always grateful.

Back to school!

I cannot believe I made it through a semester of law school! Although I did not get a perfect 4.3 and have not mastered this system completely, I am SO PROUD of myself for getting through it. This is not something that is designed for the weak and I cannot explain the confidence this experience is instilling in me. They say 1L is supposed to break you down but I have to say.. I am actually feeling very built up as I am recognizing strengths in myself that I didn't know I had. I am so extremely thankful for my support system, especially my cousin Brian, who is thankfully in ALL of my classes (this semester too!), for keeping me going when things got rough last semester.

The winter break seems to have flashed by in the blink of an eye, but I was surprisingly excited to get back into school. I feel very well prepared this semester because now I understand how to study and how to productively use my time. Last semester was almost a trial run; I wish you got a pretend semester to test out sometimes! Nonetheless, it's over with and the experiences from last semester are making me feel so much more excited and prepared for this one.

I have begun the process of applying to internships and I forgot how exciting the application process is. Writing my cover letters and sending in my resume should be boring and tedious but I actually am finding that it's showing me how much I really want to succeed in this profession. I am praying the right internship comes my way, and until then, I'll keep applying. Fingers crossed.

I started the New Year off and promised myself I would spend less time talking about my problems and more time talking about my joys. I additionally promised myself that I would take more time to get to know and love the San Diego area. I have already spent almost everyday outdoors at some point -- instead of going to a gym, I've been taking 2-3 mile runs to the marina and each day I spend a little time looking at the water. I call it my "happy place". It's one place I can go and any stresses or problems I have seem to really disappear. The ocean is such a beautiful reminder that the world is so big and my problems are so small. I am thankful to live in a place as beautiful as San Diego.

Cheers to a New Year and a new crack at this crazy thing called law school. I am feeling more motivated & better than ever.

Keeping my eyes on the prize!

In the midst of finals and all of the anxiety leading up to them, it’s hard to lose passion and motivation. In an attempt to keep my “eye on the prize”, I’ve decided to actively write down some of my personal and professional goals as a reminder of why I am doing this.

1 – Live in Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach in my 20’s. No farther than 2 blocks from the water.

2 – Live in New York City for a minimum of 6 months.

3 – Live in Europe for a minimum of a month (yay for study abroad, hopefully!)

4 – Pay for a vacation in full for my parents.

5 – Inspire someone to study the law.

6 – Help a stranger by using my knowledge of the law.

7 – Graduate law school!

8 – Pass the California bar.

9 – Be completely financially independent from my parents (I know this is lame at 22, but I’ve been a student since I was 4. Cut me a break.)

10 – Be completely, unapologetically in love with my day-to-day life.

Here’s to not only passing finals, but to excelling on them, and leaving nothing in the tank J

Education.

This post isn't completely law school related, but my day at law school kind of stimulated the thought process that lead to this post. Maybe it was my CivPro's references to "practice" today or maybe it was a conversation I had about summer internships that brought these thoughts. In any case, I got to thinking today.

I started thinking about all the times I mention law school to people and most of their reactions are "Well, at least you'll be making a lot of money someday." I've never really thought about it before, but what do they mean "at least you'll be making a lot of money someday?" Has our society really allowed the value of education to only be measured by the career you obtain after you finish?

This concept really started to bother me the more I thought about. Education is so powerful. I've heard my sister mention people at times ask her why she needs a Master's to be an actor. Why not?! I find it beautiful that someone is so passionate about a craft they want to study it at the highest possible level, without any certain dollar sign at the end. That's how we create experts and how people's true genius eventually can be exposed. There are many times I have thought I might not even want to be a lawyer. Should I quit? Should someone enter law school only with the hopes to one day be a lawyer? I don't think so. And I feel that way about any undergraduate, graduate or vocational program. I believe if someone is curious and excited to learn about anything, that should be enough. Education equips us to help our family, our friends and often times even strangers. Education can only empower you and give you strength in this world. When I finish law school, I am going to have the ability to be a much more productive world citizen because I am able to understand and navigate myself as well as others through the legal system. As it stands today, that is where any change eventually happens. To me, that's reason enough to go through law school.

People often fixate on the statistics of how much money a Bachelor's degree makes you in relation to just a high school degree, and similarly, the difference in income between a Bachelor's degree and a graduate or professional degree. If you can't give someone hard proof your degree will put you in a better place financially than where you stood before the degree, people question it. Why? I understand school costs money and these conversations are often brought up in the context of weighing the costs with the benefits... but, can benefits really only be measured by future incomes?

I sit in my classes everyday and am in awe at the subjects I am able to learn and the professors of whom I am privileged to learn from. I know I'm the minority, but I truly love school. I might not be able to, currently, show you a pay stub that monetarily proves to you that my BA was worth it, or that my JD will eventually be worth it, but I am positive that my education has completely altered and bettered my life. I can think of two classes in undergrad alone - Intercultural Communication and Gender & Communication - that have changed the way I treat people. Both classes opened up worlds I didn't even realized existed. I have said many times I wish every single human being could take these classes because I know the world would be a better place if people did. I can't tell you one job I could land from those classes alone, or one job that would pay me more for the education I received from those classes. However, I treat people better, I am kinder and I am more cultured because of those courses. That's enough for me.

I could never put a dollar sign on my education, which is why I choose to pay what I do to continue it. And even if employers never value my education the way I do, I know am blessed to have received the education I have, regardless of the income it produces one day. And for me, that is benefit enough.