Help expand my education!
Donation protected
Before reading about me, you can learn more about the trip here.
(Scroll down for a brief summary of what I am asking for.)
Who I am:
Hello if you don't already know me my name is Kira. I am 16 years old and trying to find my way through life and education. Since freshman year of high school, I have been learning about all the wonderful (and unconventional) ways to better support my learning style. I have found that I learn best in three ways; when I am interested, having fun, or immersed.
1: Interested. I have recognized that sometimes I am interested because I have always been interested in the in the subject matter, and other times, because the teachers were so interested and inspired themselves that it infected me!
2: Having fun. Having fun doesn’t always mean "messing around" and being crazy (although these are almost always fun times). Fun can be anything that a person enjoys or even things that are difficult or uncomfortable and new. I enjoy learning and experiencing new things, especially when I am in a new and inspiring environment.
3: Immersed. Being immersed in an environment where everything a person is trying to learn about, is all around them. I find this the best way to learn; by doing and experiencing things first hand. When I am in an inspiring environment with many learning opportunities, or immersed in the framework of the subjects I am trying to learn about, I am able to grow and refine many useful life skills; skills such as: observation, participation, and problem solving abilities. If you know me, you know that I love to learn about new people by observing and meeting them.
I love to learn and have always felt a strong desire to travel internationally. I believe that Project World School (PWS) has found the perfect way to combine learning, culture, experience, and more on this trip.
The numerous learning activities planned for this experience such as: Thai cooking, language and culture class, Thai massage class, visiting temples, volunteering at an elephant sanctuary, and more, are all part of the many reasons I so strongly desire to attend this wonderful learning opportunity. I love the concept of this trip because I can go, not as a tourist, but as someone who is interested in learning about the living style of a place that is new to me, with different customs and values. Getting to learn these things not only from the people I would go with but also from the people that live there, is an amazing opportunity. By being in a new place, surrounded by new people, I imagine there are always new skills to learn. Everyone has something to teach, whether they know it or not.
(A photo a student took from last years project world school thailand trip - as well as the profile picture.)
I have always felt a strong love and connection to elephants. They are kind hearted, intelligent, strong, non-violent creatures. On this trip, there is an amazing opportunity to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary and learn about, meet, and discover elephants first hand. PWS has taken special care to find an elephant sanctuary that caters toward the elephants needs, instead of the tourists wants. I would love to get the chance to learn more about and spend time with these amazing animals.
Something else you should know is that I love to cook. I have been cooking basically since I could walk; it runs in my blood. To me, cooking is a form of art. I love Thai food but have not yet learned to prepare it. I would be so grateful to be able to take an authentic Thai cooking class and greatly expand my knowledge of cooking. With a full immersion in cooking classes, volunteering at an elephant sanctuary, learning Thai massage (and so much more), I hope to increase my skills and be able to bring back and teach/share with the people of my local community (and who knows who else in the future!).
Saving the best part for last!
One more huge reason that I feel so drawn to this trip, is that I would get to visit different temples in Thailand. If you know me, there is a good chance that you know that I have a pretty serious Buddha/Hindu god statue collection.
I have been collecting these statues since I was two. My mother loves to tell the story of how I got my first statue (of Buddha, which I still have to this day).
It involves two year old me sitting down in front of this Buddha statue, and refusing to leave the store without it. Ever since I have been extremely drawn to Buddha and Hindu god statues. I would love the opportunity to visit some of these temples and possibly learn more about why I am so drawn to these statues and figures.
All these reasons and more are reasons why I feel so called to go on this trip. I would begin to expand my knowledge of the world outside my wonderful community and get a better understanding and awareness of more global problems and possible solutions.
What I am asking for:
I need your help to be able to attend what feels like a once in a lifetime learning adventure. My family alone does not have the funds to pay for such an experience. I would be SO grateful to you if you could help me achieve my goal! With the trip itself, international air fare, getting a passport, travel insurance, and money while I'm there for incidentals, the total cost of the trip will be about $5,150 (expensive I know). I am doing everything I can to make this money before the trip on November 5, 2017. Because of the fairly short time before the trip I would very, very much appreciate your help and support in reaching my goal.
A donation in any amount will help and I would be so grateful!
I have added some of my art and creations as a thank you - please take a look at the "rewards" I have listed.
(an example of my art prints)
(Scroll down for a brief summary of what I am asking for.)
Who I am:
Hello if you don't already know me my name is Kira. I am 16 years old and trying to find my way through life and education. Since freshman year of high school, I have been learning about all the wonderful (and unconventional) ways to better support my learning style. I have found that I learn best in three ways; when I am interested, having fun, or immersed.
1: Interested. I have recognized that sometimes I am interested because I have always been interested in the in the subject matter, and other times, because the teachers were so interested and inspired themselves that it infected me!
2: Having fun. Having fun doesn’t always mean "messing around" and being crazy (although these are almost always fun times). Fun can be anything that a person enjoys or even things that are difficult or uncomfortable and new. I enjoy learning and experiencing new things, especially when I am in a new and inspiring environment.
3: Immersed. Being immersed in an environment where everything a person is trying to learn about, is all around them. I find this the best way to learn; by doing and experiencing things first hand. When I am in an inspiring environment with many learning opportunities, or immersed in the framework of the subjects I am trying to learn about, I am able to grow and refine many useful life skills; skills such as: observation, participation, and problem solving abilities. If you know me, you know that I love to learn about new people by observing and meeting them.
I love to learn and have always felt a strong desire to travel internationally. I believe that Project World School (PWS) has found the perfect way to combine learning, culture, experience, and more on this trip.
The numerous learning activities planned for this experience such as: Thai cooking, language and culture class, Thai massage class, visiting temples, volunteering at an elephant sanctuary, and more, are all part of the many reasons I so strongly desire to attend this wonderful learning opportunity. I love the concept of this trip because I can go, not as a tourist, but as someone who is interested in learning about the living style of a place that is new to me, with different customs and values. Getting to learn these things not only from the people I would go with but also from the people that live there, is an amazing opportunity. By being in a new place, surrounded by new people, I imagine there are always new skills to learn. Everyone has something to teach, whether they know it or not.
(A photo a student took from last years project world school thailand trip - as well as the profile picture.) I have always felt a strong love and connection to elephants. They are kind hearted, intelligent, strong, non-violent creatures. On this trip, there is an amazing opportunity to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary and learn about, meet, and discover elephants first hand. PWS has taken special care to find an elephant sanctuary that caters toward the elephants needs, instead of the tourists wants. I would love to get the chance to learn more about and spend time with these amazing animals.
Something else you should know is that I love to cook. I have been cooking basically since I could walk; it runs in my blood. To me, cooking is a form of art. I love Thai food but have not yet learned to prepare it. I would be so grateful to be able to take an authentic Thai cooking class and greatly expand my knowledge of cooking. With a full immersion in cooking classes, volunteering at an elephant sanctuary, learning Thai massage (and so much more), I hope to increase my skills and be able to bring back and teach/share with the people of my local community (and who knows who else in the future!).
Saving the best part for last!
One more huge reason that I feel so drawn to this trip, is that I would get to visit different temples in Thailand. If you know me, there is a good chance that you know that I have a pretty serious Buddha/Hindu god statue collection.
I have been collecting these statues since I was two. My mother loves to tell the story of how I got my first statue (of Buddha, which I still have to this day).It involves two year old me sitting down in front of this Buddha statue, and refusing to leave the store without it. Ever since I have been extremely drawn to Buddha and Hindu god statues. I would love the opportunity to visit some of these temples and possibly learn more about why I am so drawn to these statues and figures. All these reasons and more are reasons why I feel so called to go on this trip. I would begin to expand my knowledge of the world outside my wonderful community and get a better understanding and awareness of more global problems and possible solutions.
What I am asking for:
I need your help to be able to attend what feels like a once in a lifetime learning adventure. My family alone does not have the funds to pay for such an experience. I would be SO grateful to you if you could help me achieve my goal! With the trip itself, international air fare, getting a passport, travel insurance, and money while I'm there for incidentals, the total cost of the trip will be about $5,150 (expensive I know). I am doing everything I can to make this money before the trip on November 5, 2017. Because of the fairly short time before the trip I would very, very much appreciate your help and support in reaching my goal.
A donation in any amount will help and I would be so grateful!
I have added some of my art and creations as a thank you - please take a look at the "rewards" I have listed.
(an example of my art prints)Organizer
Kira Guillermo
Organizer
Morro Bay, CA