blog.mylife24-7.org

MLK Day 2010

2010-01-21T23:59:00Z

by Jessica O.

MyLife 24-7 Coordinator

The weather in Los Angeles has been less than awesome lately, and it seems like the sun decided to leave us Angelenos indefinitely. While the desert could use a good downpour once in a while, the rainy situation was not ideal for a day of high-impact community service. On my early morning drive to Belvedere Middle School in East LA, I saw more than one mangled car, their parts scattered across the freeway. Despite the dangerous conditions, I made it to Belvedere around 9:00 am, and watched the City Year Los Angeles Opening Ceremony begin.

As an alum of City Year Los Angeles (CYLA), I recognized plenty of faces. I was told that they were expecting at least 1,000 volunteers, but the weather had obviously deterred a good chunk of volunteers from serving, and everyone was so thankful that I actually showed up. Corps members were bundled up in their yellow bombers and scarves, and we stood patiently, coffee in hand, waiting to be deployed to our stations. I was on the "Be The Change" team with my fellow alumni. All teams were named after famous quotes by influential leaders, and mine happened to be one of my favorite quotes of all time by Ghandi: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

There were paint cans, paintbrushes, water buckets, and dripping wet volunteers everywhere. The outdoor projects had to be postponed, but there were plenty of walls and stairways inside the school that were ready to be painted. The great thing about City Year service days is that no experience is necessary. You might have never painted in your life, but it doesn't matter. There is always someone willing to lend a helping hand, and if you accidentally paint outside the lines, no one will yell at you.

I was put on the task of painting the stairway in the Technology & Media hallway. After a brief name game, we were given our brushes and paint. Since there weren't enough paint cups for everyone, a guy named Jonnie asked to share mine with me. He told me he was from Canada, and that he was here in L.A. with his friends to visit. I told him I went to New York Univsersity, he told me he went to McGill University, and we played the 'I know someone who went there! Do you know them?' game. He also told me that he and three of his friends had created a list of 100 things they want to do before they die, and they were on their journey to complete all 100. This all sounded SO amazing to me. I created a Life List of 50 things a while back, and I am always updating and crossing things off. I wondered how long it took them to create the ultimate list of 100 things together. Wouldn't they all have different things they wanted to do?

As time went by, and conversations continued, I began to notice more and more people coming over to say hi to him and his friends. There was also a photographer, a woman who kept talking about 'the bus,' and a guy who wanted to get Jonnie to approve his Twitter updates every other second.

Who IS this guy?

Turns out, THIS guy and his friends are the stars of a new show called 'The Buried Life' that was premiering THAT NIGHT (Monday) on MTV! The premise of the show is that they travel around and complete things on their list. For each thing they cross off, they help someone else cross off something on their list. Their modesty was alarming and inspiring. These guys took the time to come to a middle school in East LA in the pouring rain to paint a wall when they had a brand new show that was premiering on an international network. They clearly didn't care about the fame and fortune their new show would bring them. They only cared about making a difference, one paint stroke at a time.

We can be the change, and we can make a difference. It starts with people like Jonnie, and me, and you.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out their show at 10:00 pm Monday nights on MTV. Also check out their website, www.theburiedlife.com, and create your own list of things you want to do before you die.

What did YOU do for MLK Day this year? Comment below with all your stories.

Best stories will be featured on the MyLife 24-7 Service page.

Getting Into College: A Personal Story

2009-12-09T23:12:00Z

Amanda U.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

Picking your college is a very personal process. Your parents want to send you to their alma mater or Harvard but it doesn’t matter because it is not them who are going to college, it is you. Choosing a college is not easy. Most kids think that their college counselor will do the work for them but that is not true. Only you can know what is best for you, so you have to do all the work yourself. Trust me, I learned from experience.

I had been waiting for college since the 8^th grade. You can’t imagine how much I researched colleges even though I was four years away from applying to schools. It is never too early to start dreaming. Freshman year, I attended college fairs and was gawked at because I was so young. Sophomore and junior year I visited so many colleges that I knew within the first minute of a tour if I liked the school or not. By the time senior year rolled around as test, projects, and papers piled on, I was not scrambling to choose my colleges. I knew exactly the colleges I wanted to apply to and the application process was not difficult for me for that reason.

The one thing that did hold me back in the process was my college advisor. He sent me home crying one day because he made me believe that I could not get into my dream school, which was the University of Pennsylvania despite all my hard work and ambitions. Initially, I was deferred from the school and it seemed my fears had come true: I was not good enough for my dream school. I gave up on my dreams for a few weeks. This was of course unacceptable. I had let someone else get my thoughts down and as soon as I realized this I made sure to get in touch with the acceptance officers at the University of Pennsylvania and do anything I could short of giving money for a spot in the school.

I now attend the University of Pennsylvania in the Wharton School of Business and I did not get there with the help of any college counselor. My challenge to you is to search for your dream school and get accepted.

Ambassador Google Group: How-To

2009-07-10T01:11:00Z

Why a group?And why Google?

We decided to set up an online group so that Ambassadors could communicate with one another, and not just MyLife 24-7 program staff. We chose Google because it offers a variety of services and features that are unmatched by competitors. Gmail is the choice amongst young professionals today, and Google has plans to release a new product called "Google Wave" that could potentially change the face of email as we know it. So it's not a bad idea to get comfortable with their platform.

The best way to interact with the Google Group is to create a Google account. The account will allow you to view the group through a web interface that is similar to a social networking site like Facebook. In other words, you can log in and edit your profile (membership), view everyone's posts as threaded discussions, and search. You can also change how frequently you receive emails.

So how do I use it? What are my options?

We've created a "tester" account so you can log into the group and check it out without having to create your own Google account. Keep in mind that everything in the group is moderated, so if you leave a post, you won't be able to see it until one of us MyLife staffers okays it. If you want your own Google account, check in with your parents and see if it's cool first. Here are the tester deets:

1) Go: http://groups.google.com/group/MyLife24-7Ambassadors
2) Login: username = MyLifeGroupTester, password = mylife24-7
3) Look around and see if you like it. Make sure to click on all of the links.

If you decide you don't want a Google account, that's fine too. You can still use the group, but your access will be limited to your non-google email account. No Facebook-like web interface. No interactivity. Just email.

So...
1) You will receive everyone's posts in your yahoo/msn/cox.net etc. inbox, from MyLife24-7Ambassadors@googlegroups.com
2) To post a message, send an email to MyLife24-7Ambassadors@googlegroups.com

If you have still have questions, try checking out the Google Groups support page: http://groups.google.com/support

You can also leave questions or advice in the comment section below. And let us know if the post was helpful!

This I Believe: Tolerance is Not Enough

2009-07-06T21:51:00Z

Jivanto V.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

We live in a world that lacks. It lacks things there could never be enough of, like tolerance. I believe that through tolerance, we can become a little more understanding of one another. We can love a little more, and hate a little less. Through tolerance, we can become a unified nation and world instead of one divided. I believe in tolerance.

However, tolerance is not enough. We must move towards acceptance. I believe that to accept one another is the only path to concord. To me, "tolerance" means, "I don't like you, but I feel obligated to be nice to you because it's the right thing to do. I cannot stand certain things about you and those things make me superior to you. But, to keep the peace, I will put up with you." The word “acceptance” elicits a very different and far more positive response. It seems to say, “You are different from me, and though there are things I may not understand, I see you as an equal. We may not be alike, but I support your rights, feelings, and identity as much as I would my own."

As human beings we cast judgment on one another the second we meet. We write people off for things as trivial as gender, race, and sexual preference. In order for us to become a united people, we need to throw aside these instantaneous conclusions. When we are tolerant of one another, our minds and hearts open and become ready to listen. Through listening, we can learn about the diversity of views in the world. Through knowledge, we gain wisdom, and through wisdom we can finally learn understanding and acceptance. I believe that those who display acceptance toward others will receive it in return. I try to exemplify tolerance and acceptance so other people will listen to my ideas and beliefs too.

In a world that is in a constant struggle because of our immense dissimilarities, I believe in acceptance. It may not solve global warming, but it could have very positive effects. Constant disapproval of people who are different from us doesn’t make life better for anyone. People we disagree with are still people, just like you and me. Regardless of whether we agree with every statement, all voices should have the opportunity to be heard. As Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

______________________________

This piece was written in the style of “This I Believe,” an international project engaging people of all walks of life in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values that guide their daily lives. The project, which is featured on public radio, is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow.

www.ThisIBelieve.org

The Writing On the Wall this Year? Character.

2009-07-06T21:31:00Z

Olivia V.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

My high school is a pretty decorated place—literally. The hallways, walls, even bathroom stalls are adorned with handmade flyers that students and teachers have tacked up. When the head of Harvard-Westlake School stressed the importance character at the beginning of last year, there was an almost instantaneous change of “wallpaper” around school.

She talked about how we should all choose “the hard right, not the easy wrong,” which became the theme of all new flyers. Some flyers were decorated with green lights and red lights, while on others there were grades, A+’s down to F’s. At the time I thought they were a little uninspired. But upon reflection, I realized that this was the most important lesson I learned (or re-learned) this year.

Every single day, we are faced with hard rights and easy wrongs. Some situations are more clear-cut than others, but for the most part, they fall in that nondescript gray area that is everyday life. From the moment I wake to the second I turn off the last light in the house, I have to make choices. If I run a stop sign, but see that there’s no cop, does that make it okay? If I cheat, but promise not to tell anyone, does that make it okay?

Our choices define who we are, and through choosing the hard right we become better people. For my part, I always make a full stop and I do my own work.

Candid Quotes: Mistakes, Ideas

2009-07-01T19:20:00Z

Sara Z.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."
– Albert Einstein

Mistakes are going to happen to everyone and people who seem perfect are not trying new things. Failing is necessary sometimes in order to succeed.

"A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on."
– John F. Kennedy

A good idea is always memorable an will keep living on long past the time of the person who had that idea.

Vibrant Videos: The MP3 Experiment - Six

2009-06-30T23:50:00Z

Jivanto V.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

By ImprovEverywhere

Over 2,000 people of all ages downloaded the same mp3, pressed play at the same time, and had a blast together. This year's event (2009) took place on Roosevelt Island in New York City.

Read Technology Columnist David Pogue's recap of the event here »

Candid Quotes: Failure, Change, Stress, Work, Simplicity

2009-06-30T23:40:00Z

Chelsea M.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

"I didn't fail 1,000 times, I just found 1,000 ways not to make a lightbulb."
– Edison

"Be the change you want to see in the world."
– Ghandi

"Stressed spelled backwards is desserts."
– unknown

"God give me days until my work is done and work until my days are done."
– unknown

"Simple pleasures are priceless treasures."
– unknown

Vibrant Video: Surprise Wedding Reception

2009-06-30T23:28:00Z

Brianna S.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

by ImprovEverywhere

Bold Books: My Sister's Keeper, Wuthering Heights, Fahrenheit 451

2009-06-23T23:32:00Z

Sara Z.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

1) My Sister's Keeper
By Jodi Picoult. I like how this book is different from any other books I have read and has an ending no one can guess.

2) Wuthering Heights
By Emily Bronte. I love the character of Heathcliff and his struggle for love with Catherine.

2) Fahrenheit 451
By Ray Bradbury. Bradbury's ability to write about the future and predict what could happen to our society is amazing.