Spanish Tutoring Update

While tutoring an underclassmen in Spanish, I wanted to undertake new challenges and develop new skills. Spanish is my hardest subject in school, as I struggle formulating thoughts to speak while incorporating all the skills and grammatical skills I have learned. Some skills I learned in the begging of my journey causing me in needing to be refreshed. Tutoring in Spanish so far has helped me to re-familiarize myself with these skills. Preparing lessons helps to really evaluate the skill in a broader sense and real world application. It not only makes me a thinker, but an effective communicator in my foreign language.
Undertaking the challenge of tutoring Spanish also combines with learning new skills. It is really helping me to establish a clear understanding in the basics is Spanish, which was something I have been lacking.
Tutoring as a whole is going well as the other student is actually benefiting from it. His test scores on retakes have improved, on instance from a D to an A. Finding different ways for him to practice what he is learning in class is helping him benefiting him by being at the right pace with the rest of the class and not falling behind with a need to catch up. Going over his test mistakes also seems to aid in the effectiveness of the tutoring.
Ciara

SSS w/ Cans for Hope (Service)

Myself and the director of Cans for Hope have met to discuss joining together to do various events from awareness to fundraising. They focus on rehabilitating victims of sex trafficking, SSS works to help establish self worth in others. They go hand in hand, so we are plan to meet again to come up with exact events and plans. Through combining with Cans for Hope I want to accomplish two learning outcomes;

1. Working Collaboratively With Others
2. Engaging an Issue of Global Importance

Putting two organizations together should raise some challenges as we try to promote the idea of each of your non-profit, and making sure we incorporate each others ideas and input.We will be engaging in an issue of global importance by addressing the problem of women being used as tools for manipulation amongst countries along with the issue of females having a hard time establishing and identifying self worth.
More to come!
Ciara

SSS Classes (Service and Creative)

This Thursday will be Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project's first class. We will be visiting the Boys and Girls Club in Commerce City, and other locations in the future. We will have one hour to teach that group of girls the basics of SSS and self worth. This shall prove to be a challenge, because we are used to hosting 6 hour events that have to be condensed to one.
With these classes I will aim to;

• Consider the Ethical Implications of Actions Taken

I really want to see the social impact our program has on these girls, so I want to check back with the various Boys and Girls Club locations to see if our program is working.
In these classes we will follow this basic schedule; 

10 min; intros
15 -20min: power point/discussion on beautiful things
20 - 25min; various activities
5 min; closing remarks

I hope it all goes well!
Ciara

Spanish Tutoring (Service)

Starting tomorrow I will be tutoring a 10th grade Spanish student every Monday after school. With this activity I plan to attack two learning outcomes;

1. Undertaking New Challenges
2. Developing New Skills 

Spanish class has always been the class I have struggled in, but mostly when it comes to the oral component of speaking and holding a conversation in Spanish. One of my strong points has always been learning the rules to properly put a verb in its correct form of a specific tense. This is the primary focus of learning in MYP Spanish II. 

I plan to also incorporate a new skill into this by learning different and creative ways to learn Spanish  which can be categorized under creativity. Hopefully by helping another THS IB student I can help him increase his Spanish skills while not making it something that would put one to sleep.

Funds!

The legal process for SSS is going slower then I would like, but great news is the fact that I have the funds raised that I needed to go through the legal process to file the paperwork. How did I accomplish this? Through the Canvas and Coctails night. Each person who payed to go ($40) got to learn to paint the picture of the night and $10 dollars of each attendee went to SSS. I was a little disappointed that no teachers from school came to support me but there was a whole new crowd of people I could inform about SSS. 

All in all we $750!!! More than what we needed! So now I have the extra money to buy supplies for upcoming classes and events! That sounds so great! 

We also have another fundraiser this Sunday, the old fashion way; by doing a car wash! It is free with donations highly needed. I got the idea from my taekwondo, so I am happy to have all kinds of people involved to help the whole car wash in motion and make some more donation money!

SSS Taekwondo Addition

This is late, but never late then never. The Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine Event at my Teakwondo went great! I started promoting it a month before hand, and at first not alot of people signed up, making me really nervous. Last minute lots of girls signed up, and I was very excited. I wanted to make this a little different and incorporate TKD elements into the event, while still making it fun. To do this we discussed the Tenants of TKD in a fun way, and later on they played taekwondo games with out master. It was really cool because our volunteers got to try taekwondo, making them look silly which made the girls have lots of fun. When the day first started there was only 6 girls there, and that made me so nervous! I kept telling myself that it doesnt matter if I help one girls life, 6, or even 10000. Alot of girls called saying they were going to be late so we started the event later. Since I am big about being on time it was hard to shift plans, but it worked out for the best! They really enjoyed all the activities we had planned, but they really loved the boost books. This time the design was changed to make a few page prompts to get them thinking, then blank pages. Master Andre did a great pep talk, and they all enjoyed their gift bags! The girls also had a quick mini photo shoot with Carleigh in their uniforms doing taekwondo techniques. It was just so hard to fit all the girls in with quality photos.

Through this event I learned a few strengths and weaknesses on how to make it better for next time.

• Photo shoots take too long, and are so rushed. Plus getting the photos returned to the girls in a timely matter is difficult. I am not going to do this aspect in the future unless its for a small group of girls.
• Boost books are so essential to it all, and is something that the girls really enjoy and I must keep in.

In the end I accomplished what I wanted. All the girls walked away with a better sense of self worth and new techniques to help their confidence. In addition I opened up the communication barrier between myself and the middle school aged girls to see me as someone they can go to, which made nationals a blast. The younger girls still say Shimmer Sparkle Shine all the time, and keep asking if it will happen next summer. It was a great success. 

Nationals

I am proud to say I did a great job and had a great time at nationals! I did not place in the top 3 for a medal but I did great for my first time. I feel like I really accomplished my learning outcomes; which I would first like to discuss Collaborating Well With Others. I discussed how I really wanted to help out my team and be apart of the Teakwondo family, and be comfortable to get help from them and also help them in return. I did the fundraising to be apart of the team, and hard work of going there. My favorite was the car wash fundraiser. It was a nice contributing factor to the funds to go.

Along with this and camp I grew a connection to my team. I really felt like they were all there to support me, along with everyone else, and not think of our own teammates as competition. In Dallas at actual Nationals is where the aspect of the learning outcome really blossomed. Since my master was busy trying to help everyone and all over the place, we all helped each other. When I needed help on competition day my teammates held my boards for me and went over questions on my forms. We were all each others cheerleaders. I watched my team and cheered them on, even on days I didn't need to be there. When there was an adult meeting I watched all the children. All of the kids grew on me because I want to see them all do well because they have such great spirits, and I see their potential. I also bonded with the parents, and became friends with one of the moms at Teakwondo because she has a teenager spirit. I loved how this was accomplished, and how my heart grew for the team and the sport.

My second learning outcome was to Increase Awareness of Areas of Strength and Places for Growth. In my original goal of this process I stated finding room for growth in my forms from taking 2nd at state to taking a medal at nationals. I made goals to work on my L-stance and certain aggression of power, and balance for my form. To my dismay I found out that with only a week to learn and practice, my form I was to compete in changed. This freaked me out like no other, because I had to start from scratch. This really made me aware of my strengths and weaknesses for this form. I had a hard time with footage of using the left or right foot. Plus I had mind over matter, and my mind was psyching my out. I knew that my strengths were my facial expressions, hand techniques, and power. My weaknesses were of course balance and stances. I worked on this at home and in Dallas. I didn't place but I did learn my form and become aware of what was important to focus on in the short amount of time.

My other weak point I wanted to work on before nationals was my balance. I did this by working on WiiFit and trying this balance excersize at Teakwondo. We would work with the medicine balance balls. The goals progressed and got harder over time. We were supposed to be on our knees on the ball, hold ourselves up for a minute them do hang techniques. This progressed to doing a half frog and having one leg standing on the ball with the other leg flat and doing hand techniques. When I started I could even hold myself up with my legs, but then I stay focused and kept trying. By the end of the Teakwondo camp I could do the half frog for over a minute. I was very proud.

I feel like I accomplished my goals for this Action project, and I am very happy with it all!

TKD/Yoga

Nationals is so close! Only about a week away! It is really a scary thought, but an exciting one. Throughout getting ready and conditioning for nationals I have learned so much and pushed myself so much. I have really worked on identifying my strengths and weakness throughout the whole process. I have always said my balance was my weak point, so I started doing stretches at TKD to help. Over the past few weeks I have been doing balance conditioning with the bouncy workout balls. At first I could not even balance my knees on it holding on. Now I can do the half frog for over a minute! The balance really comes from my core muscles, it is like the saying that the center or "core" is important to everything else. My strengths of my confidence for board breaking has helped me improve my trying new challenging techniques to use in my board breaking routine in Dallas. I have also been doing my Wii Fit Yoga routines daily to also build my balance. That has really helped and has been something I stick to and do every day. (learning outcome) My other learning outcome for nationals of collaborating well with others has been great! I have really grown close to my teammates and master throughout this process. I like how we can be of all different ages and belt ranks, but we can still all help each other out and try to help the other succeed. During the past 3 weeks there was "national camp" during the day for 6 hours twice a week. It was so hard to push myself to limits I never thought possible, but I also made a stronger bond with my team. Having my master give me personal motivational feedback was awesome. Along with this I made a friend in TKD who really believes in me, and has faith in me, and helps me where I struggle. Both learning outcomes are great for me! And the YOGA project is still in progress. DALLAS HERE I COME!!

Some of us from the national workout camps during the day.

CTA!

Ciara Neill

Taekwondo Update

Nationals are vastly approaching, and let me tell you, it is WAY harder then I thought it would be! I have been training so much trying to make attending classes a regular habit, and working on my weaknesses. Due to my lack of balance I learned that I have to work really hard on my core muscles, so I have been really doing stretches focused around that. For my goal of collaboration with others, I really wanted to get to know my team at CTA so that I have a strong support system and so I know how to support them. Is is also important knowing how to work with others when it comes to critique to only improve yourself. This is becoming really evident as I come up with my board breaking routine, and hear constructive critism. Almost Nationals!

SSSP Taekwondo Addition

Event two for Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project (SSSP) is for May 26th at my teakwondo, and I have mentioned already. Some changes to the activity scheduled is the craft time for the "About Me Brochures" I was thinking, and I really like the aspect of the boost books on how they can add things to them later to keep on using in and with the brochure they can't do that. When doing research on other activities I found out that Girl Scouts has a self esteem campaign too filled with resources. They suggested that each girl do a book about them where they do five pages, each page being different, about what makes me unique or special. I loved that idea, because I could put extra pages in it for the boost book part of it too. I want them to be able to put the quotes and resources we give to them somewhere. In the program there is also going to be a point where the younger girls are divided from the older girls. The younger girls are going to do an activity where a story is read, and each time something mean is done to "samantha" then they rip a piece of paper off (the paper is a picture of "sam"). Then if something good is said they tape a piece back on. The idea is that you can fix the things you do to people, but the damage will be forever there. The older girls will be focused on the media's impact to what we consider beautiful. We will go over facts, and how the media photoshops images. Then they will be put to the test to use propaganda to sell a clothing line to women, while making sure it doesn't negatively shape the girls who want to "buy" the product. They day is quickly approaching and I can't wait. Ciara

SSS Project

I am so happy to finally uncover the official logo for shimmer sparkle shine! It was made by an amazing CU Boulder student! Here it is..Drum roll...

The event for Teakwondo is fast approaching on May 26! I am getting excited for it of course! It is going to be different, which has helped me to come up with multiple activity ideas for the future, so that it is different at every event. The girl scouts have a new self esteem program with ideas on things to do, which is a great resource. I just wanted to give you a quick update, but more to come! Ciara

July 2nd is the Date for Nationals!

Nationals is approaching fast! It is getting scary, especially with my foot hurt again. I twisted my foot the wrong way a few weeks ago, and ever since then I can't run on it again, or do any huge movements with my toes. That has put a damper into my warm up routine. This reoccurring pain did lead me to work on my first learning outcome; collaborating with others. I talked to my master and his wife, who is also a black belt, on alternatives because I was highly frustrated. They are going to work with me to come up with a new warm up routine as everyone else is running and such so I can still condition. That makes me feel so much better, and I learned that I don't need to be afraid to ask for help or something different to accommodate my injury better. I have also been working on learning outcome number 2 of being aware of my strengths and weaknesses. My balance was really well there for a while when I was doing yoga routines on my wii fit. Sounds crazy, but it does work. For the last few weeks I haven't been practicing Yoga, which I have notices that my balance is off again. Therefore in order to get ready for nationals I need to work outside of the dojo to maintain good balance. I was also told that strengthening my abominable muscles will help with that as well. Now I am just brainstorming board breaking routines. One inch thick boards are no problem for me. Im thinking of putting two one inch thick boards together to break something two inches thick. It is all still in the works. For the poomse (form) part of competing, I will be doing a different form then I did at state. I am very thankful for this. At state I did Taegeuk Oh Jang, which many say is the hardest form. I defiantly agree because your body motions need balance, which is soo hard for me. At Nationals I will be doing Taegeuk Yuk Jang. I like this form so far. It has a lot of hand techniques which are a strong point for me. Here is a youtube video of it! I will keep you posted! Ciara

SSS Project Update

For right now Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine project is kind of a waiting game. I am currently having the logo made by a CU graphic design student, and the logo is going to say SSS Project and have keys with it. The keys will be the symbol of Shimmer Sparkle Shine because it is a big part of the program. I explain to the girls that people are like keys. Every key is different, and has its own unique shape, and each key also has its unique purpose. Each key unlocks a different door to lead you down a different path. Same thing applies to people, each of us has our own purpose and road to experience in life.
I am also drafting the By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation right now. It is definitly a hard process, a big learning experience. I might make a draft, then have my mom's attourney look over it, and help me along the process. I think having help from someone who knows what they are doing will be a big help.
Part of becoming non-profit, is spending LOTS of money to the IRS to have tax exemption to be a 501(3)c. I don't have the money out of pocket for that, so I started to research fundraising options. There is this place my mom and I like to go to called Canvas and Cocktails. Each day is a different painting, and you sign up a head of time and learn how to paint that painting in a fun atmosphere, and it doesn't matter your skill level. Everyone's paintings come out like the one you signed up for. Well they do fundraiser nights where most of the profits made that night go to the orginazation. I am lucky enough to have them host me a funraising night on June 25. It does cost $40 a person, but it for a good cause. Besides, all supplies are incluided. Here is the link, and a picture of the painting.
https://www.canvasandcocktails.com/quick-signup.php?eventid=2349

I am hoping to raise alot of money that way.

In May I am doing my next Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine event with girls at my Taekwondo. It is going to be a little different this time. I am trying to put together a booklet full of activities, so that each event isn't always the same.

It is still going to start out the same, but instead of presenting the "Things We Find Beautiful" in a powerpoint, it will in photos, since a projector will not be an option.

Since this is for the girls in Taekwondo, we are adding a Taekwondo aspect of discussing the tenants of Taekwondo, which are like values to live by; Courtesy, Intergrity, Perserverance, Self-Control, and Indomiable Spirit. I have volunters assigned to each tenant, and they are going to present it to the girls in the fun way, and a way that they actually understand what it means.

Instead of doing Boost Books they will be doing About Me Broochures. It is kind of like a boost book, like they still get to decorate it, but they answers the questions in it, and it makes them have to think posativly about themselves to answer them. Then we will take the Broochurs and read information from some of them and have the girls guess who brochure it is, based off of the posative things. The goal is also for all the girls to relize each others talents, and grow closer together. (I still need to make this)

Then my master will play some games with them, because that is always a hit when he does it in class. They will enjoy "playing" with him, and that will be fun in an all girls zone.

Then some volunteers will lead them in games, and I take each girl one by one to take pictures of her for her photoshoot. Instead of them being glamour shots, I am having them in their uniform doing Taekwondo moves, to make them feel powerful.

Then for the ending, I will have my master give a speech to the girls, then I will do my normal closing stuff.

I am excited for the progress it is making! Stay Tuned! For info to come shortly hopefully.



Action; TKD Nationals in Dallas

This chapter of Action for CAS starts today, with my journey to Dallas, Texas for Nationals in Taekwondo. It is going to require lots of work, and I am ready to better myself in the process. I will be competing in Forms, along with Board Breaking, and possible blaster sparring. My goals for the journey to nationals are: 1) Collaborating Well with Others 2) Increase awareness of strengths and places for growth. I need to learn to collaborate well with others to rely for help on my teammates, who are also going to Nationals. I also need to work with others on fundraising to benefit everyone to have the chance to go to Nationals, and working with others to come up with a board breaking routine, and trusting them to hold my boards. I chose the second aim again because their is always room for improvement. I did place silver at state for forms, so I know I have many areas for growth to earn a gold at nationals. I want to constantly make myself better for the way to path to earn my black belt. Part of being a good student is always improving, you can never be perfect. The last day of nationals in July 4, so I plan on writing my final reflection for this experience then, and throughout the process. Lets have CTA bring home GOLD and became a NATIONAL CHAMPION SCHOOL!

Final Reflection for TKD State

State for Taekwondo went amazing! I received a silver for my forms, and a silver for blaster sparring. And I was lucky enough to walk away with a gold in Board Breaking. My goals for this process in Taekwondo was to show perseverance and commitment, along with being aware of my strengths and weaknesses. I want to end this chapter of Action for CAS and reflect on my year long journey in Taekwondo, and how everything led me to victory at state. When I joined Taekwondo, I had a hard time going my goal of 3 times a week. I would use homework as an excuse, and when I didn't have homework I used the excuse that I wanted to rest. I got motivated, then shortly after I suffered from my foot injury, and had to take a 6 month break. I started going again, but still had a hard time getting back into the game because my foot was still having pain. It made me not want to go, but with the news of State at the end of March I felt a motivation to start going. I had a goal to start going, and a time frame better yet, the goal for doing Taekwondo was broad, only wanting to receive my black belt, but this helped me get a specific goal of getting ready for state. This meant I had to put the two aims of this in mind, and a incorporate it into my life. I started going 3 times a week at the least, and I would also go on Saturday mornings to improve my forms one on one. I liked this one on one lessons because I really helped me to identify my strengths and weakness within my blue belt form for state. I learned that I am great at showing power and force, along with remembering the whole form. My problem came when I had to do a kick with my arm and leg parallel to each other. I had a hard time doing this, and keeping my balance while doing it as well. Another problem, was at the very end of the form, I have to kick, stop my foot when it touches the ground, do a back face fist, and balance on my toes. It wasn't only the whole action of doing that at the end, to make a strong ending, but the pressure I had to put on my injured foot. I practiced holding on to the wall and kicking and punching with my arm parallel over and over again. I also practiced the last move, creating a smaller amount of pain throughout my foot. I also learned that I have a strength in board breaking, and I am bold and willing to try many things, which thankfully led me to the gold at state. I broke one of the one inch thick boards with my head, along with many other techniques. This also helped me learn that I am stronger in my punches and hand movements then I am in kicking. I have less control of my body when I kick. I am very grateful that I was able to make a habit of going, and able to analyze the strengths and weaknesses. Winning the medals was such an amazing feeling because I felt like I worked hard for it and I deserved it. When other teammates would congratulate me, I felt like I worked for it. This was great for me, and helped my body physically. I close this chapter in CAS for Taekwondo; Mission: State. Nationals in Dallas here I come. Here are some pictures of my eventful day at state.

This is myself walking into the event, in my warm-up uniform.

Competing in Forms

My first round in Blaster Sparring, where I won against a first degree black belt male.

Waiting for the results after board breaking.

Myself with my master.

Afterwards by the mascot of the host school with my two silvers and one gold.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is going great! I am attending more practices, and my techniques are getting better. State is in two weeks and I am so excited and nervous. I haven't done a competition since I was a kid, so its like memories floating in my head. Having a metal around my neck for something that awesome will be such a great reward. I am doing blue belt form for forms for state. I am pretty good at it, minus the fact that my balance is shaking when making turns. I really need to work on that, and most importantly my ending foot jump stomp. It still hurts my foot injury, so I have to find a good balance of technique and lack of pain.
For state I am also doing board break where I come up with a routine, and do break about 5 boards. I decided to do hammer head attack to break my first board. (couldn't find picture) Then for my second board I plan to to an elbow strike.

Then I will reverse my body and do a normal punch to the third board.

Then I will break the fourth board with my favorite kick; an axe kick. It it where you kick your leg straight up, but when you bring it down, it is even faster.

Biggest one of all, I want to break the fifth one with my head, which I have never done before. EVER! It sounds like such an adrenalin rush, and I want to do it, but I need to practice it first of course. http://youtu.be/GI5y53y0NoI

It looks painful, but im excited. I decided that before I perform in front of people for the first time in years, I should perform it in a small crowd. Last Friday I did my church talent show, and I did my blue belt form, and my friend helped me with 3 step sparring. It was good to perform in front of people again, before the big scary STATE!



Keep You Posted!
Ciara

BIGGER AND BETTER!

BIGGER AND BETTER things are happening for Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine. It is currently going through the paperwork to be non profit which is amazing! I have people interested on being on the Board of Directors, and the by-laws and articles of confederation are written. Now its just the approval and IRS Tax Exemption Form. So exciting that I am only 17 and can make this kind of difference. Its alot of hard work, but yet I am learning so much.
The biggest problem is that it is going to cost over $700 to get tax exempt status from the IRS. So that led me to a great idea! This place I love to paint at with my mom and my friend is called Canvas and Cocktails. It is so fun because they teach you step by step how to paint the picture you signed up for, and it actually comes out nice. There is also a bar for people old enough to drink, and fun instructors and music. In the past they have held fundraiser nights, where all they money made goes towards the charity for the night. They make a lot of money doing this too!
I decided to go on a whim, and ask them if they could host a fundraiser night for us, so that we could have the funds to become a non-profit and they said yes! It will be some time in June, and I am so excited.
A logo is also being created for Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine which is exciting as well!
I also have another SSSP event scheduled for in May. It is going to be for the girls at my Taekwondo. Its going to have some similarities and differences then the last event. The biggest changes is first the fact that we are going to incorporate the tenants of Taekwondo into it, which are like values.

Boost books will still be done, along with group discussions, but instead of glamour shots they will be motion shots. Instead of them doing hair and nails with older girls, they are going to get dressed in their Taekwondo uniform, and get pictures done of them doing taekwondo so that they can see themselves in power! Plus, motion is hard for me to do in photography, so this will be great practice!
They also love to play Taekwondo games with Master Andre so some of that will be in there as well. Going to be great!

On a personal note, I decided that Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine Project is my life calling. I feel a burning in my heart every time I go to do it, or think about it. This is why I am here, to make girls happy about who they are. So I decided to go to collage to pursue this. I want a minor in non-profit management, and a major in sociology of physiology. Have to do more research on that aspect, but who knew that CAS would help me find my life calling!

Reflection for the Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project Event 1

My first event for the Shimmer, Sparkle Shine Project went AMAZING! I am so glad to have the opportunity to spread the message that girls should love themselves. When I started out with the Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project I had two goals for my learning outcomes. Through the first 3 girls on an individual level, and planning the first event I achieved these. The first was to Engage in An Issue of Social Importance and the second was to Collaborate With Others.

Before I get into my reflection, I want to give an outline of the event, and Shimmer Sparkle Shine's ways to help raise girls self esteem.
The first thing we did was start off with a discussion and get to know you. It started off with all the girls having to introduce themselves along with one thing that they like about who they are. Then Carleigh and I both had power points on things we find beautiful. I talked about my mom along with other family members and friends. I also discussed how I find keys beautiful. My theory behind that was that a key is like a person. Each key is different and unique and is different then other keys. Each key is different, and serves a different purpose. It can also unlock different doors or "opportunities" that are unique to that key or person. I some how want to incorporate this into Shimmer Sparkle Shine.



The next activity was "Boost Books" which I got as an idea from the Dove Self Esteem Campaign. The whole point of the book is to put things inside of it that can cheer you up when you are down like pictures or quotes. I covered basic notebooks in paper before hand, then at the event the girls were able to decorate them with stickers and paper to be unique for them. The volunteers also all brought in an insperational quote to put in the girls gift bags to have them put into their Boost Books.




After that was games, then lunch. The girls enjoyed a Nacho Buffet, then snacked on cupcakes that were made and donated from the Bagel Bakery in Thornton.




Followed by lunch was fun makeover time. All of the volunteers did the girls hair and makeup for their photoshoots. This gave a more one on one aspect between the girl and volunteer with a big sister like relationship. The volunteers and girls seemed to match up perfectly together and create a relationship. It was great to see all ages bonding together and involved.




Followed by this was a photoshoot done for each girl by Carleigh and myself. This way each girl had photos of them to take home that they could have too look back on and reflect on how their real beauty shines through. ( critique of photography to come later)


After that Silver (a volunteer) entertained the girls with games. Then it was closing all the girls came in front of the group one by one and shared what they learned, and received their goody bags with girly stuff donated from Clairs and others!

My first goal was to focus on an issue of global importance. Everything described above sums up how I did it. From here I plan to continue the process of making it a non profit this summer to effect even more girls.

The second goal defiantly came through as a learning outcome which was to collaborate with others. Initially I thought of this as communication between me and the girls, but it went in a different direction. It first started off as way of communication between Carleigh and myself. Carleigh was the one who helped me plan the event. I had to make sure that I wasn't overpowering and that I included her ideas as well. I also had to make sure to include her in the decision making process. We are both very involved people, so it was hard to get together alot, but we made it work.

The next form of collaboration was between myself and the volunteers. I needed help from them to make it all possible. They all helped with the set up, running the actual event, the makeovers, and clean up. It is sometimes hard to put yourself out there with a need for help but it went amazingly well. Every volunteer was excited and had a positive mind frame about the project. Some girls had amazing ideas for us to incorporate in. The volunteers also learned just as much about themselves and their self esteem in my opinion. For myself personally I help myself when I help others, and I think the volunteers were the same way. Some of them were emotional through the day because of the impact we had on the girls. It was great to have the volunteers.



The last collaboration was with Clairs in 16th Street Mall. We contacted them with our idea, and the manager along with the others at that location donated jewelry, makeup, and hair pieces for the girls gift bags. It was amazing!




Another key element was not only the service portion, but the creative side as well. It was just like throwing party planning. Decorations had to be made, goodie bags, and games.




The last goal was to improve my photography. Lighting is sometimes an issue for me, and I really wanted to improve that element. I also like focuses on zooms in of the face, because I find the face a beautiful element to be focused on, and is overall what Shimmer Sparkle Shine is about. It is difficult to work with some girls over others. I just had to figure them out, and get to know them so I could make them comfortable to be themselves and take pictures that reflect them. I did take pictures of my first little girl who has glasses, and after wards I was going through the photos and noticed that her glasses reflected in the photos. That is something I have to be aware of for the future, and learn how to avoid the reflection. Each picture below is my favorite from each girl I photographed.











This is only the start of Shimmer Sparkle Shine. It is going places, and is going to effect a lot of people. Exciting!
Ciara