With
graduation just a few short months away, most college seniors are scrambling to
figure out what it is they want to do with their lives. Whether it be finding
their dream job or choosing to continue their education, the decision never
comes easy. At the start of my senior year, I expected to feel this sense of
pressure. However, after completing one of the most challenging and inspiring
summer internships, I’ve discovered where I need to be and what I want to
accomplish. I want to work for a cause. Working
at the American Diabetes Association for the past six months has been inspiring,
eye opening, and incredibly heartwarming. My experiences at this nonprofit
organization have helped me realize that giving back is something I want to
incorporate in my future career.
Over the
summer, I worked closely with Walmart’s Corporate Giving Program, and
specifically with its Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) Program. Every year, each
Walmart associate is given four, $250 VAP grants, to be given away to a charity
of the associate’s choice. All they need to do in order to give each VAP grant
away is to volunteer 25 hours for that specific charity. It was my
responsibility to travel to different Walmarts in Chicago’s Northwest, West,
and Southeast suburbs, influencing associates to participate in this VAP
program for the American Diabetes Association.
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| Associates from the Elk Grove Village, IL Walmart, ready to kick start ADA's VAP Program. |
By the end
of the summer, I had a total of 112 VAP applications completed and grants
received, totaling to $28,000, which will go towards diabetes research,
education and advocacy. I invited these associates to the American Diabetes
Association’s Step Out: Walk to Stop
Diabetes event the last weekend of September. Seeing these associates come
together, all so touched by their hard work and the end result, is an
experience I will always remember – an experience that has helped me realize
that after graduation, I want to work for
a cause.
