3%

Even 3% of $6000 is an encouraging amount. I submitted another portion of the Global Leaders scholarship today (a very long, confusing financial aid section which my father mostly had to fill out). I should hear back from that in a week. If successful, it could prove a rather large amount of money.

I am drafting a letter to send out to a few Oregon government officials, inquiring about money spent on education, and if there is any possible way to tap into the $8000 sum that they spend on each student per year. It is a long-shot, but I am desperate and hopeful.

I think I will begin sharing this link through email, hoping to draw in a few more lovely people. I cannot stress enough how awesome it would be if you would pass this blog around. Like I said, if 2,000 people gave me $5, the goal would be met.

I hope you all enjoyed your holidays!

Love,

Ruth

In Collaboration With Facebook...

I wrote a 'note' on Facebook to let everyone know what was going on, and to pass this link around. If you happen to come to this blog by another mean, please feel free to share the link with anyone you know!

We're up to $125! AFS said that every month they'd send an email detailing who gave contributions. I can not wait to see who has been so kind and started this all off!

Thanks!

Hope.

The first donation was made (I am not sure who it is from...), and that really sparked hope into me. I knew that if this failed, I could refund the people, and that it would be okay... but that was obviously not an exciting thought.

I have made the decision to completely put myself into this. The program is hard enough to get into, regardless of the $11,000 fee, but there is no point in life without aspirations and dreams.

There are positive ways to look at everything. If 2,000 individuals gave me $5 each, I'd be nearly there. If the Global Leader scholarships are approved, I'll knock a pretty good chunk out of that. Why not break out of the apathetic mold, and do something HARD?

Thank you so much, whoever has made the initial $25 contribution; I will not let you down.

(If you're wondering why I set the "ChipIn" meter at needing $6,000, when I really need about $11,000 no matter what country--I was trying not to intimidate myself and others, I think. Also, it was a little bit of optimism that I could earn the other $5,000 through scholarships/personal income/etc. We'll see!)

Potential progress.

Over the past week, I've applied for the AFS Global Leaders Merit-Based scholarship and submitted the necessary accompanying letter of reference. If it is successful, I could earn up to $1400!

Also, I've sent out three job applications to local hotels and a retirement home. No word yet.

Hello!

Hi, my name is Ruth Hale, and I am desperately trying to raise the money to study abroad with AFS for the 2010-2011 school year. I want nothing more on this planet than to spend my next school year studying in a foreign country (the location is still undetermined, though I've applied for China first-most, then France and Italy as other options). I hope to become fluent, or near-fluent in Chinese, French, etc, and study their language thoroughly. I am excited to live with my host family and gain the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live in a school-based home setting and fully experience the culture! In addition, I hope to share my American culture with them, doing what I can to strengthen a wonderful intercultural bond.

The problem is, times are tough, and studying abroad is spendy. I am doing everything within my power to apply for scholarships through AFS and otherwise, apply for jobs to create an income, and save every penny. Please, please think about making a donation (no matter the size; nothing is too small!) and helping me make this dream a little closer. If you are living close, and would like to exchange your donation for work, or anything I can do for you, please let me know!

I am so excited to begin this fundraising process and keep this blog updated on what is going on! I should hear back from the Global Leaders scholarships soon, letting me know if I am receiving any of what could be be a couple thousand dollars.

To sponsor my AFS program now, please click the ChipIn button.