My Ability to Do by Avishan

My Ability to Do by Avishan - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

In high school, I began to take up many leadership positions and volunteer in many different ways. One of my favorite experiences with volunteer work has been with a non-profit organization called Couture for Charity, which was started in 2013 by a family friend of mine. Couture for Charity is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that combines a designer’s and community’s mutual love for fashion and desire to help fight breast cancer. The organization was inspired by my mother, who battled breast cancer for 9 years. Couture for Charity puts on fashion shows and live/silent auctions to raise money for cancer research. The organization put on its first show in 2013, where my mother was a guest speaker. About 2 months later, my mother passed away, and I decided that in order to keep the flame of her life alive, I wanted to become more involved with this organization.
Throughout my time in high school, I have worked closely with Couture for Charity. Though the non-profit is based in Marietta, Georgia, I constantly keep in touch with the designer/founder, and help her with new ideas for Couture for Charity’s next event. This past summer, Couture for Charity held another fashion show and live/silent auction. An immense amount of work goes into preparing for fashion shows and the auction, and though Connecticut and Georgia are many, many miles away, I was eager to assist in any way I could. Working on “virtual” side of the non-profit has allowed me to do so. From February 2017 to August 2017, I worked as the Director of Social Media for Couture for Charity. I ran the social media accounts, advertised for the show and worked to illustrate the core values of the non-profit online. The week before the show, I flew down to Georgia and helped with setting up for the show. I visited sponsors, got the dresses ready for the models, set up at the venue, and continued to post on social media to get our followers excited. Working behind the scenes was truly rewarding, but when I was asked to be a guest speaker at the event, it was an entirely different honor.
I was beyond flattered when the designer and founder of Couture for Charity told me she trusted my ability to address a large audience and deliver an effective speech. My mother contributed immensely to my development and growth as a leader in my community. She taught me how a single person can inspire a large community and make a big difference, and I was determined to deliver this same message at the fashion show. I wrote my speech in a manner to lead the way for others to better understand cancer and its devastating effects on communities. Though my mind was flooded with emotions when I got on the stage to deliver my speech, my “ability to do” was stronger than my fear. It warms my heart to know that my words empowered the audience to participate in the fundraising efforts. To see people wiping away tears, their eyes filled with inspiration and awe, assured me that I left this audience with a new perspective that would stay with them forever.
Through my work behind the scenes and as a speaker for the event, I was able to influence hundreds of people to become more involved in the fight against cancer. Volunteering for Couture for Charity has taught me the value of hard work and of making a difference. You do not have to be all grown up to make a difference in the world. We as young people can make a difference now. I look forward to my future work with this organization, and hope to work with more organizations like Couture for Charity in the future.