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By unpopular demand: another Worked For It Wednesday that’s just something I’ve done.
I wrote a speech. It’s powerful, and it’s passionate, and I absolutely love it. I worked hard on the language, but the words came naturally. I would share the video, but it’s got my school’s name on it, and that’s not something I’m sharing on this blog right at this moment. Maybe some day...
I’ve pasted it after the jump.
At Middle School Prizegiving, Ciaran will get up, and he’ll give the valedictory speech, and he’ll say that in the Middle School, it’s been a good year. And it has. Most of us got through exams relatively unscathed. Most of us have developed in character. Most of us have grown to respect each other and ourselves. The speech I’m about to give is not a valedictory speech. It tells you to question your elders and to break the rules. It’s the representation of everything I’ve learnt in the last one thousand, three hundred, and ninety-three days. It’s six pieces of advice from someone that’s been there before.
Question everything. Question everything, from your parents to your religion, even this speech. Take nothing as complete fact, and take nothing as a complete lie. Everything is made for a reason. Search for the truth, even if others wish to obscure it from your view. Find out all the information, all the options. Take nothing as gospel. Let no-one lie to you, let no-one mislead you.
Stand up for yourself and for others. You matter, and you deserve care and respect and people that value you. You have a past, you have a present, and you will have a future. But so does everyone around you. If someone, anyone, is being put down, for their race, their gender, their sexuality, their religion, their abilities, their disabilities, their morals, any part of their existence, defend them. Defend them to the death. Be their ally, be their friend. If your friends are putting them down, then your friends don’t deserve the mercy and the tolerance you give them. Also, don’t be a sexist, a misogynist, a racist, a homophobe, or a transphobe. None of those things are cool, and being any of them gets you nowhere.
Chill out. Worry less. Put on some music and have a lie down. If this is your first time doing that thing, talk to someone that’s done it before. Nothing is new under the sun. Don’t get stressed out. A bad mark is not the end of the world. Everything can be fixed.
Do things that scare you. Do things that challenge your perceptions, do things that you’re wary of. Leave no trail unbeaten, leave no experience undone, leave no opportunity unconsidered. You’ll only be young once — make the most of it.
Know your mind and your limits. Know how far you can and will go. Know what “bad” things you can live with doing, but know which things you can’t. Know when enough is enough. Know when you’re at your limit. Know when to go it alone, and know when to ask for help. Know when to go for it, and when to hold back. Know that times change, and that you’ll probably have to change with them. Know that people change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Know you’ll always have a family, and you’ll always have a home. Know that you’ll have your heart broken and your bones broken and your spirit broken, but also know that you’ll come back from it all, because there are people that believe in you.
Don’t change who you are. If someone says you’re too nice, that means you’re doing just fine. Don’t let poverty reign. Don’t let injustice win. Don’t stand by as your world crumbles. Fix what you have the power to fix, and fight for what you don’t. Become active, pick a cause, fight for that cause, and never give up that fight. If you stop fighting for who you are and what you believe in, all of the bad things I’ve told you about today will go on.
Ending a speech with a quote is the biggest cliche in the game, but I’m going to end with a quote from Randall Munroe of the webcomic XKCD. Yes, Felix, this is from Choices: Part 4.
Take wrong turns. Talk to strangers. Open unmarked doors. And if you see a group of people in a field, go find out what they’re doing. Do things without always knowing how they’ll turn out. You’re curious and smart and bored, and all you see is the choice between working hard and slacking off. There are so many adventures that you miss because you’re waiting to think of a plan. To find them, look for tiny interesting choices. And remember that you are always making up the future as you go.
I’m Jackson Lastname, I’ve been one of your Middle School Leaders, and that was everything I’ve learnt in the past four years that actually mattered. Thank you for letting me share it with you. I wish you all the very best of luck.
Today is the third day of this blog, and the second day of the January 2016 New Zealand Youth Leadership Summit, of which I am a participant. It’s being hosted at the Massey University campus in Auckland, and I’m having a phenomenal time. I am proud of what I wrote in my application, so here it is.
I worked hard on my application, so it’s my Worked For It Wednesday post for today.
Why did you decide to intern at WaterFire Providence?:
Emma, Special Ops: I decided to intern at WaterFire because I have lived in Rhode Island my whole life and have been attending WaterFires for as long as I can remember. I've always wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the event department to get ready for a fire and the whole season and I figured an internship was the perfect way to learn more about it!
Sarah, Social Media: After graduating, I knew I wanted to stay in Rhode Island for a while, so I searched all over for social media internships. Once I saw that a social media internship was available here I immediately applied because WaterFire just captures everything I love about the Rhode Island community!
Brooke, Special Ops: I decided to intern at WaterFire because I was interested in learning about what goes in to planning large-scale events and how non-profit organizations operate. I was very intrigued by WaterFire's ability to transform the city of Providence. It is very inspiring what the organization is able to do for the community.
Sam, Graphic Design: I'm required by my school to do an internship, so when I was searching for Graphic Design internships in Providence, WaterFire was the first to pop up! I thought it would be pretty awesome to design things for such a well-known organization, and it's also pretty cool that my work will be seen by so many people! Plus, it doesn't hurt that everyone here at WaterFire really nice and knows how to make the environment fun!
Marissa, Social Media: I love event planning, so when my school required me to complete a media internship for graduation, WaterFire, as one of the most well-known events in the state, was a perfect fit! WaterFire had a great environment and seemed like fun place to work.
Ali, Management: WaterFire Providence offers a unique experience among nonprofit organizations. We are able to experience many different parts that make a nonprofit successful. Everything from event planning, grant writing, donor relations, community impact and engagement to management. WaterFire offers participates to be a part of a large experience while still giving each person a unique perspective they can call their own. I have been attending WaterFire Providence for many years and admired the organization ability to transform the city. I choose to be part of this organization because of the mission that they believe in and their ability to follow through with a vision.
Cristina, Social Media: I knew I wanted to stay in Rhode island for my freshman summer, and I knew that I wanted some sort of internship that was closely tied to the Providence community. I've been going to WaterFire for most of my life; as soon as I found out that internships were available, then, I knew that was what I wanted to do this summer. Most of my college extracurriculars involve social media, so that specific opportunity was an added bonus!
What's the most valuable skill you've learned from your internship?:
Nick, Social Media:I think a skill that I've learned is how to utilize my resources. For example, I noticed that we have a seemingly infinite amount of video saved on our servers, and I thought that they would make good .gifs for our Tumblr, so I decided to make them! Also, this is my first time in an office setting, and you'd THINK that I'd learn how to speak and present myself professionally, but like, I still don't lololol
Jake, Special Ops:Time management with events was most likely the most valuable skill I learned during my time with WaterFire. In events I've run in the past, time was never very strict. However when the lighting has to start exactly 20 minutes after sunset, you get pretty good at making sure an event pops off at the exact moment it needs to. From having people in the correct places at the correct times to making sure setup is done on schedule, all of event planning is time based.
Casey, Philanthropy:It's not a skill exactly, but now I understand the inner workings of a fundraising team. I've worked with the database where all the information on our donors is kept, I've applied mail merges to letters i've written so they can be "personalized" and sent to hundreds of individuals, and I've debunked the myth of grant writing. What I mean by that last piece is that when we think of grantwriting we think of it as a concrete skill; you must be taught how to write a grant. What I've learned is that grant writing is very similar to writing an academic paper. There's a thesis whose argument is "you should give us money" and the rest of the grant is presenting how we would use that money and why its important. Now, at the end of my WaterFire internship, I feel like I have a very good sense of the pieces that actually go into fundraising.
Danielle, Marketing & Development:The most valuable skill I've learned at WaterFire is how not to get trash juice on me...just kidding! I think event nights have taught me to keep calm under pressure. The Brazier Society gets busy quickly and managing boat rides can be hectic, but if I've learned one thing it's to not panic because Brazier Society guests can smell fear. Did you know that?!
Tracy, Marketing & Development:Communications skills with clients in a different culture,the skill for writing persuasive proposals, and driving of course!
Andy, Video:There have been so many lessons! I think the most important things that I have learned this internship has been using Premiere to animate video stills, chroma keys, basically just getting familiar with the software and how to use it. There has also been a great deal of learning about what is the most important aspects and shots to get for the filming of bands, and events. Its been a crazy amount of development in those skills, actually. But theres so much more I can't list it all here.
Melanie, Nonprofit Management:At the risk of sounding like a cheeseball, I think the most valuable thing I've learned from WaterFire is how to come together with a group of people and really work like a team. WaterFire is nothing if it's not about community, and working with such a fantastic group of staff members, volunteers, and interns has taught me more than I ever expected this summer. What I didn't learn, however, was how to fix a printer jam. But there's still time.
Alex, Volunteer: Not that I haven't learned anything but StarField definitely gave me the confidence to become a better public speaker in both explaining my point and in directing people to complete a specific task. Also Starfield has definitely helped me with time management and to always plan for the unexpected!
What would be your dream location for the next WaterFire?:
Alex, Volunteer: I would love to bring WaterFire to my home city of Philadelphia near boat house row!
Nick, Social Media: Probs Spain because I'm studying abroad there in a few years.
Kristine, Social Media:North Carolina because, why not?
Jake, Special Ops: I would love to see WaterFire Nile River just to see some Egyptians.
Chelsea, Special Ops:I was abroad in Japan last year, and I know the Japanese love art and aesthetics, so I think WaterFire would be a hit there.
Dylan, Special Ops:Pyongyang, North Korea. I think Kim Jong-un could use a little light in his life.
Casey, Philanthropy:I suppose Minneapolis would be pretty cool. The chain of lakes in the southwest portion of the city could definitely support a WaterFire, and it would be great to get to show my friends and family the amazing event that i've been working so hard on this summer! Also the Mekong river would be a really cool place to do it.
Danielle, Marketing & Development: Cinque Terre, Italy simply because it's absolutely gorgeous.
Caitlin, Marketing & Development:That's easy, my favorite place in the world: London on the Thames River!
Tracy, Marketing & Development:Mainland China, on the top of Yangti River which is cross my hometown Chongqing. We should do it to inspire more people, not only people from United States, but people around the world, especially the kids from developing countries, they deserve it as well!
Andy, Video:I have spent the last four years in Worcester, MA. The city shares a lot in common with Providence. Both were built on manufacturing and have had to find new methods of generating revenue and employing people as the industrial sector has moved away. Just like providence, Worcester has a river that runs through it, with the same kind of confluence that is found a Waterplace Park. I'd love to see a WaterFire done there, where it might generate a revival in the city.
Melanie, Nonprofit Management:London, so that the Royal Baby can be our guest lighter.
Abby, Arts & Research:I decided that I wanted to stay in Providence this summer and work at RISD, so I started looking for internships in Providence that would allow me to explore other parts of the city outside of college hill. This internship fit perfectly because I love WaterFire and was interested in the inner workings of a non-profit. Also, I wanted a graphic design-related internship so I could learn adobe creative suite, because RISD made me buy it but never taught me how to use any of it.
Alex, Volunteer: I joined the WaterFire Crew for the 2013 season because I really wanted to know what happened behind the scenes. As a spectator for almopst 2 years I have witnessed crowds of people gathering at sunset in the basin to see fires being lite on the providence rivers while music surrounded the city. It was just so amazing to me how something so spectacular could appear and disappear as quickly as it did. When I saw the opportunity to be a part of the art and the event planning aspects of WaterFire I had to take it, plus who wouldn't want to stay in providence for the summer?
Nick, Social Media:I volunteered for a lighting in Fall 2012 and I really enjoyed the atmosphere, so I figured I'd apply for an internship. I'm not getting credit through my school, so this is basically just for experience and to keep busy during the Summer.
Jake, Special Ops:At Johnson & Wales, in the Sports/Entertainment/Event Management program, we are required to take an internship worth 13.5 credits. So earlier this year I began the hunt for companies I would like to do it with, attending career fairs, browsing online databases, and asking around my circles of friends. After speaking with Andrea at one such career fair, I liked the sound of doing my internship here.
Dylan, Special Ops:As a Rhode Island native currently going to school in California, I was eager to return home for the summer and work in my hometown community. When I googled "Providence internships," WaterFire was the first to pop up! I was really interested in working in events management, and WaterFire is the place where I can do just that!
Hanying, Special Ops:This is my credit internship for my college. My major is sport entertainment and event management, so event intern at WaterFire is the best spot for me to put my hands on real events. I was looking forward to train my skills and get some experience for event planning, and I did them all during this summer.
Kristine, Social Media:Instead of taking a summer class, I wanted to get out of North Carolina and do an internship for credit to gain experience. I looked in Rhode Island since I have family up here and would already have a place to stay. I remembered my aunt telling me about WaterFire a few summers ago, so I researched the company and... here I am!
Danielle, Marketing & Development:I was interested in gaining experience at a non-profit because non-profits are part of my major and I wanted to see if a career in non-profits was for me. I was also really eager to see how non-profits work and how they differ from a for-profit company. I have really enjoyed my time at WaterFire.
Andy, Videography:I applied and was accepted into Clark Universities LEEP pioneer program, which is an exploratoratory program designed to put Clark students into real world work situations. WaterFire offered one of the only media production jobs, and after I looked into the organization and its goals, I knew WaterFire would be a great place to work. Its been great!
Melanie, Non-profit Management:While I’ve always been interested in journalism, and have worked for several newspapers in the past, I was curious to see what it’s like to work for a nonprofit organization. Looking for internships with this in mind, I stumbled across WaterFire’s internship program, and I thought it sounded like a great fit. Working in nonprofit management has taught me a lot and has opened up a whole new can of worms of what I might be interested in pursuing after college. Now, more than ever, I have no idea what I want to do when I graduate next May. I’m going to pretend that’s more exciting than terrifying.
Caitlin, Marketing & Development: I heard about the WaterFire internship program through a few of my peers in the Roger Williams University PRSSA chapter. Experience in a workplace and gaining as much knowledge about marketing and public relations is key before I graduate in a year, so I was on the hunt for my first internship opportunity. I applied to a few companies, however, I was attracted to WaterFire because it combined both of my passions; the arts and public relations. When I got the call for an interview after meeting Alex at the RWU Career Fair, I was ecstatic to be one step closer, and within hours after my interview I got the job! WaterFire is the perfect place for me to grow as a professional. I have already learned a great deal about how a non-profit works, the importance of sponsorships and supporters, and how to craft a strong press release.
