I Was Here

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

1 Peter 3:3-4

At approximately 2 AM on December 8th, 2010 (a.k.a. the night before my most difficult final ever - Accounting 2), I was awakened by a group of overly ecstatic UGA H.E.R.O.* Executive Board members telling me that I was chosen as the 2011 Campus Relations Chair. Most people would consider this a bit rude and definitely weird, but my thoughts were the exact opposite. I have wanted to serve on this position for several months now and have been diligently working to prove to the rest of the HERO Executive Board that I could handle all of the position's responsibilities and challenges. Though I was a bit delirious when I heard the news, I had severe trouble falling back to sleep because I was so excited and honored.

I have to admit that at the beginning of my quest to be named the Campus Relations Chair, my main motivation (which has been my motivation for many leadership positions that I've held) was to add an impressive role to my resume for a very worthy cause. But as this semester has passed, that has drastically changed. As I've become more involved with HERO through being a member of the Public Relations and Marketing Committee, I now grimace at my original thoughts. This organization is so much more than that, and it's made evident through the passion of its leaders. What is their passion, you might ask? The children who have absolutely no one else advocating for them. They are the 12,000 kids in Georgia alone who are either infected with or affected by the horrible, worldwide epidemic of HIV/AIDS, and we are the only organization that provides quality of life programs for these children.

Before I became involved with HERO, the only things that I thought of when I thought about HIV/AIDS were Africa and Oprah. I had no idea that its effects hit so close to home. I used to believe that in order to made a difference with AIDS, I had to have my own talk show, visit third world countries, and be an expert on the disease. I now know that I don't need any of that. I only need this organization, the children we support depending on us, and my fellow HERO members (past and present) to motivate me and help me make a difference.

Anyone who knows me personally will tell you that I'm not the loudest person. Soft-spoken, a tad bit shy, and nurturing would be more appropriate words to describe me. I'm never the HERO member who raises the most money nor am I the one who gets everyone pumped up at our big meetings. This was always an insecurity of mine... Until now. Two young women who I greatly admire and have had the pleasure of meeting and working with this past year on HERO actually complimented me on what they saw as qualities rather than weaknesses of mine. Hearing these sweet words has encouraged me to not only to embrace these personal characteristics, but they also made me realize that I don't have to be the loudest nor the strongest person in order to make a difference. I can still have a positive effect on others with my own quiet, genuine disposition.

So that's what I'm going to do... I'm going to continue to work for these kids whose voices are more difficult to hear than my own. The two young women who I mentioned above gave me the confidence and the voice to be heard in this organization, and now I want to help raise the voices of the 12,000 children who not only want to be heard, but need to be heard. I know I won't be able to personally meet and help all 12,000, but if I can make even the smallest difference for a fraction of a few, I'll be satisfied knowing that I left some sort of mark in my life - And not a mark on my resume, but a mark on other lives.

I Was Here

by Lady Antebellum

You will notice me
I'll be leaving my mark like initials carved
In an old oak tree, you wait and see

Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold, I don't know
But I'm ready start 'cause I know in my heart

I wanna do something that matters, say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better with the time I've been given
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less than something that says "I was here"

I will prove you wrong
If you think I'm all talk, you're in for a shock
'Cause this dream's too strong and before too long

Maybe I'll compose symphonies
Maybe I'll fight for world peace
'Cause I know it's my destiny
To leave more than a trace of myself in this place

I wanna do something that matters, say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better with the time I've been given
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life
And leave nothing less than something that says "I was here"

And I know that I, I will do more than just pass through this life
I'll leave nothing less than something that says "I was here"
I was here

*UGA HEROs (Hearts Everywhere Reaching Out) strives to improve the quality of life for the 12,000 children in Georgia by raising money to support the programs offered by H.E.R.O. for Children, Inc., spreading awareness about the growing problem of pediatric AIDS, and participating in service initiatives aimed at improving the lives of affected children. UGA HEROs now unites more than two thousand collegians under this mission statement. Our vision for the future is to not only keep growing in members and donations, but to increase awareness of our cause across the state of Georgia. UGA HEROs rallies students across campus in a year-long fundraiser that culminates in a grand finale at the HERO Olympics--an event for these children and UGA students. UGA HEROs works closely with the UGA football team, Athletic Association, and both Head Football Coach Mark Richt and Georgia Legend Vince Dooley (who are both H.E.R.O. Board members) to help rally students and raise more money for children with HIV/AIDS in Georgia.

TO LEARN MORE, PLEASE VISIT UGAHEROS.ORG

TO DONATE, PLEASE GO TO UGAHEROS.KINTERA.ORG