Alison E

The $1.50 Challenge

What can $1.50 buy? For some thats one Smart Water, for many thats food for a whole day. The ONE Campaign, a grassroots advocacy caimpaign aimed at ending extreme poverty and preventable disease, challenged students at Universities nationwide to take a $1.50 pledge. Members of Sacred Heart's ONE Campaign took the challenge full-on. The rules were to basically live off of $1.50 per day on food. In essence, the hopes from ONE were for students to advocate for those billions of individuals living off less than a $1.50 in third world countries. 

I myself took on the challenge. I lasted only four days without cheating, but gained a world of insight. I struggled at the grocery store when deciding whether to buy a Banana or a Sweet Potato for dinner. Helpings were small and very infrequent. My daily diet either consisted of a Sweet Potato and a Banana or Ramen noodles and a Banana. I could hardly afford anything else and I became increasingly jealous of those around me when they had, what seemed like, lavish meals.

What I learned after the challenge was over made all the difference in this excursion. I went out to eat with a friend and purchased a wrap for $6.00. Never have I questioned the price of a sandwich so much in my life. That sandwich in reality could be a weeks worth of food for a child in Sub-Saharan Africa, and yet I'm gobbling it down like its the last supper. It challenges like these that make you appreciae the blessings in one's life, and I guess in my case, every $1.50 I have to my name.

"We don’t dig ditches, we don’t administer vaccines, but we are the voice for the voiceless.”

This weekend I had the absolute pleasure to attend a conference in Washington D.C with The ONE Campaign. For all of those who don’t know what ONE is, we are a grassroots advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease particularly in Africa. We have a chapter here on campus where I lead as the Secretary. Throughout the year we host events, have petition signing parties, we lobby, and make calls to congress regularly.

Myself as well as our President of the Campaign here on campus ventured to our capitol to represent Sacred Heart. It was an eye-opening experience to learn about the injustices our world faces on a daily basis. Throughout the conference we had remarkable speakers like Steve Radalet the Chief Economist for USAID, Ambassador Tony Hall the Executive Director for Alliance to End Hunger, Dr.Paul Offit , Michael Gerson a Washington Post  Columnist and former speechwriter and senior policy adviser for George Bush, and many other extinguished individuals.

After two days of presentations we went to congress. The entire conference had 181 meetings set up with local senators and congressman. Within each meeting members of ONE asked congress to support two initiatives for new vaccines and sustainable agriculture development. If you told me a few years ago I would lobbying with ONE in our Capitol I would have laughed, but now it doesn’t seem so crazy!

The whole summit was incredible and reiterated why I am passionate about everything I am involved in. My advice to you, find something on campus that you absolutely love and don’t give it up!

Here are some pictures from the trip!

 

 

 

 

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."

 
I apologize for not writing more frequently! So much has happened since my last update that I can’t wait to tell everyone about it. But first, I have to tell you all about my trip to North Carolina for Spring Break. Like the other years, this year I partook in the Habitat for Humanity alternative spring break Collegiate Challenge. 21 students, 2 faculty members, as well as myself drove down to Wilmington, North Carolina to build a home. While we were enjoying the beautiful weather and cool sights in Wilmington, Sacred Heart had 4 other trips out across the nation. We had students go to Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, and Texas. During the week my group and I worked on a lovely home for a single mother and her daughter. We were able to complete the shingles, siding, electrical work, heating and air conditioning, and some of the kitchen work. I was amazed at what we got done and how well we worked as a team. My group and I learned so much from the people we met and but most importantly, so much about ourselves. Getting involved in Habitat was one of the best decisions I’ve made since coming to Sacred Heart, and I’ve never regretted my involvement once. These trips not only allow me to build new friendships but they inspire me to work hard and to be thankful for everything I have in my life. Not to mention all the skills we gain from these trips are really handy! If you are already at SHU or are planning on attending SHU I can’t say enough great things about our Habitat Chapter and I encourage you to become involved!

 
 

 

“It's not the amount of time you devot, but what you devote to the time that counts.”

It’s hard to believe we are half way through February already! Time is flying by and things are starting to get really busy. With only a few weeks until we head to North Carolina, planning the Habitat for Humanity trip is at the top of my list of things to do. Last week we had our first group meeting and I am so excited get to know everyone and have another great experience in Wilmington. My classes are also gearing up after all the snow days we’ve had in the past few weeks and next week I have my first financial management exam. :/

On a less scary note, Sunshine Kids and RISE have started! Last week I got to spend time with my Sunshine Kid catching up about Winter Break and having a fun Valentine’s Day party with the rest of the kids!

Another priority right now is working on the Pioneer Magazine. As the Ad manager I am responsible for collecting and managing all the advertisement placed in Sacred Heart’s Magazine, therefore I have been running around Fairfield asking local shops and restaurants if they’d like to advertise. As the magazine progresses I get more and more excited about its turnout. This year we have an article about student’s Bucket List and this really got me thinking about my own bucket list. I think it’s important for everyone to have a Bucket List, as it allows you to always have a dream to complete and something to look forward to.

My bucket list so far:

1. Embark on a cross country road trip
2. Visit all 50 states at least once
3. Go skydiving
4. Go white water rafting
5. Ride a Cable Car in San Francisco
6. Visit Greece, Australia, and Africa
7. Live at least 4 months in a foreign country
8. Drive down Civic Road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QWKljfV9qc&feature=related
9. Swim with dolphins
10. Visit the Grand Canyon

What’s on yours?

 

 

New Year - New Semester

And we're back! It's nice to get back into the swing of things. Over break I had no job and no exciting plans so although laying around the house watching TV and reading was relaxing for a change, I was getting quite bored. In contrast, this semester will be anything but boring. I am taking six classes in order to lighten up my load for senior year and I'm staying involved in my regular extra-curricular activities. I'm happy to say that my classes so far have been really interesting. My course load includes Finance Management, Service Marketing, Digital Marketing, Retail and Merchandising, Art of the Moving Image, and Video Outreach. In order to minor in Media Studies I have to complete two production courses as well as two theory courses and a few other major classes. Unlike most classes, Video Outreach is Media Studies production course that is completely hands on. On the first day of class we learned that we will be creating a documentary which will be based around a community service project of our choice. Needless to say I cannot wait to start working on the project!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only things that ever has." - Margaret Mead

This weekend, SHU's Habitat for Humanity club drove over to Bridgeport to  be in attendance at a ground-breaking ceremony. This house is unlike others, as it will be Sacred Heart's first ever partially funded project. In the past, our club has always participated in housing projects but this time we are able to help financially and physically. The ceremony was so wonderful and all the hard work and dedication from our E-Board and the members of our club has finally paid off!

 
 
 

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! There is nothing better than coming home for the holidays to a warm fire, food, and your family.

 
 
 

Project Play!

 
On Saturday SHU had its first ever Project Play event! Project Play was run by a few of our leaders on campus who organized a field day for some of the kids we have grown to love and adore in this community. Mentees and Mentors from all different mentoring groups came including, Mi Amigo, Project Strong, Sunshine Kids, and AMP. During the day we ran scavenger hunts, organized field games, wrote letters to the troops, and even had our own dance party. I was utterly exhausted when the kids went home but they had a blast, as did I. Here are a few pics!

  

 
 
 

Reasons Why I loved these past few weeks..

1. Habitat- I found out that I will be leading a Habitat trip this spring break to North Carolina! I am so incredibly excited to go back to Wilmington and lead this time. I don't know how this trip will surpass last year but I can’t wait to find out who will be with me and what we'll be working on.  
2. T-Swift- I have become obsessed with her new CD
3. Semi- With the formal coming up, I now have an excuse to by a dress! I have it narrowed down to three but I’m sure once I get off my computer and do some real shopping, my decision will be that much harder
4. Family Weekend- My family decided junior year was the year they would take advantage of family weekend. Therefore I spent my family weekend hanging out with Nana, bringing my brothers out with all my friends, and taking my mom to all the cute shops in Fairfield.  By the end of the weekend I was exhausted but it was so worth it, we all had a blast.
5. Halloween- Fabulous for so many reasons. One reason being our annual ONE Campaign Reverse Trick-or-Treat. This service project asks students to go out into surrounding neighborhoods and collect canned goods for St. Charles parish. We had a great turnout and were able to stock up St. Charles with non perishables for the community. Besides Trick or Treating, Halloween wouldn’t be the same without the parties.  For Sunshine kids, we had our annual Halloween party where the kids and big buddies had a mummy-wrapping contest (see ridiculous pic below). And of course we can’t forget the legit Halloween parties :)

 

 

Important Countdowns:

 Thanksgiving: 9 days

Christmas: 35 days

 Habitat Spring Break: 109 days

 … & Most importantly my 21st Birthday: 106 days

 

 

With love,

Ali

 

“The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.”

Junior year is when everything starts getting a little more real. Internships become more seriously encouraged, grades matter, networking becomes essential and the work doesn’t die down. It won’t be too long until my friends and I walk across that much dreaded stage to receive a diploma and I still find myself unsure about the future. When asked what I want to be when I grow up its hard to pinpoint the exact position. The truth is, Sacred Heart has opened my eyes to so many things in the past two years that have influenced my outlook. I still have the same goals and aspirations but how I go about those goals are different. I have a passion for service and a passion for my major and right now I’m trying to discover a career opportunity with some sort of balance. I also want to travel and I want to take advantage of every opportunity SHU has to offer which can get challenging with so many commitments. I’ve started looking into studying abroad over the summer especially since SHU offers some great opportunities at incredible places like Rome, Luxembourg and Ireland. My goal over the next two years is to take every opportunity I can because despite how much I wish I could stay in college forever, the ‘real world’ is approaching.