Gabrielle Marshall's Mitzvah project

I am Gabrielle Marshall, a 12 year old girl celebrating my Bat Mitzvah this year. If you are unfamiliar with Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, it is when a boy or girl turns 13 and becomes a Jewish adult (Bar Mitzvah for boys and Bat Mitzvahs for girls). In the year before the Bar or Bat Mitzvah we usually start our Mitzvah projects. A Mitzvah project (Mitzvah meaning good deed) is pretty self explanatory. The Bar or Bat Mitzvah does a good deed, which can usually be raising money for a charity of their choice. For my Mitzvah project I have chosen to raise money for the Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School (AJC) in Richmond, VA. The AJC is a scholarship school for underprivileged children in grades 4-8. The school emphasises writing. I was recently recognized in a national poetry competition sponsored by Poets.org, so, as you can imagine, writing is very special to me. I felt compelled to help these children because I believe that everyone deserves the best education possible regardless of their financial situation. I would love the chance to change one kid's life. AJC is a Christan school and, yes, I am Jewish. But even though the school teaches a different religion, I am supporting children for the opportunity to experience the education that they deserve. My love for writing inspired me to write a poem for this cause. Please help me to help them. If you would like to learn more about the AJC, you can visit their website. My go-fund-me is down below if you would like to donate. Thank you so much for your consideration.


I could change the world

only if you’d let me.

I could save a nation

If I got to try.

I could be the one

After rising from the bottom.

I could do my best

Because I got a chance.

I understand the inconvenience 

No one knows it more than me

But I’d rather know it better

Then waste an unattempted try.

I shouldn’t be invisible

And live in an ongoing “what if”,

Just imagining what I could have done.

So let me speak my words

So they can tell my story,

But I need more than just 

my voice

So I won’t go on 

unheard.