There is Still a Chance to Influence the Future!

Ok, I’m going to put myself into another uncomfortable spot.

I’ve carefully followed my Christmas budget, and I’ve laid out my plans to work extra hours the next two months, and I have wonderful family members who will help me out in a pinch, but…

I’m afraid some unforeseen bill or expense will ruin my chance to take my daughter on her class trip.

The OCP class has had some good donations, but final payment for the cabins is Jan. 10.  After that will be figuring out how to get us all down to embarkation (thirty-ish kids and adults).  Will we be pooling vehicles and drivers, or will we charter a bus for the group?  Will we drive all night, or be able to get a hotel?

The teachers have been encouraging smaller donations from friends and family, like Christmas or Happy New Year cards sent directly to the class with a donation enclosed.  (That was exciting to see.)  Allstate is offering $5 to the class for every name/address/phone/e-mail contact that agrees to go through an insurance quote, but the quote has to be completed before they donate.  (Personally, I’d rather just donate the $5 directly to the class.)  One of the other class parents,  Mr. Coggeshall, has set up a place to donate on his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/donate/762484663944324/  (The link isn’t working, but you can find it on my FB page.  I’ll keep fiddling with it.)  The class is sponsoring a “Hat Day” in the school, where students get to wear a hat all day if they donate $1.  (I’ll post a picture if I can.)

Here is the local news report for the trip. http://www.wistv.com/story/37125565/midlands-students-to-get-job-experience-on-cruise-ship

So, rather than just corporate donations, we are pleased to accept any help at all, no matter how small.  The school address is River Bluff High School, 320 Corley Mill Road, Lexington, SC 29072, and make sure it’s marked Attn.: Occupational Credential Program Class Trip.  The teacher’s contact information are Benjamin Dangerfield at bdangerfield@lexington1.net and Karen Rozmus at krozmus@lexington1.net

Just so you know, I promised myself I’d never monetize my blog, or my exploratory writing in general.  Although I admire the people who have the self-confidence to follow that path, I won’t accept payment for my writing until I have proof-of-concept in the form of a finished product.  Anything I post here is purely to help other writers, even if it’s just to NOT make the same mistakes I have.  I had a “bootstrap” upbringing (for better or worse), and while I have been able to ignore it when it comes to the help other people NEED, I an unable to escape it in my own mind.  This plea is about as close as I can stand to asking for help, because it’s for her, and all the other kids with big dreams.

Happy New Year, y’all, and Happy Writing!

A shy Kitsune girl displays a banner on two of her tails for the big cruise boat. (Kitsune is a Japanese fox spirit with multiple tails.  AJ brings me more mythology information each day.  I love it.)

The Future May Be In Your Hands

Today, I’m not talking about myself and my struggles to become a writer, or trying to organize what I have learned to benefit other writers.  I’m going to talk about some kids. (Or, more specifically, my own kid, who wants to be a writer.)

My daughter is in the Occupational Credential Program at her high school.  Kids end up in this program for different reasons.  My daughter loves old movies, comics and manga, video game lore, cryptozoology, world mythology, cosplay, bad puns, and scaring people.  She also has autism, with a combination of issues that make it too hard to get a standard diploma, and it’s unlikely she will go to college.  This is why she is in the OCP.

She wants to be an artist, and a writer, and a video game researcher/developer.  We’ve had “the talk” with her, about how artists and creative people usually have a day job until the creative work starts to make money.  She understands and accepts this unfortunate fact of life.  But she’s a teenager , and she has dreams…

The wonderful teachers for the OCP have organized a job shadowing opportunity for the kids on a cruise ship…   I know it sounds weird at first–I was very skeptical–but Mrs. R explained that she hoped such a huge break from the everyday life of a regular town would really open the kids eyes of the possibilities for jobs out in the wider world.

And she’s right, of course, but it’s also a chance to expand their horizons, quite literally.  My artistic, sensitive child will get to see a sunset at sea, watch the movement of waves and wake, experience a diverse population of many cultures and languages, have a little fun, and who knows what else.  These new experiences could re-shape her perspectives, and be the meat and potatoes of her future artistic life.

But it also costs money.  While I imagine the parents will find the money to send the OCP kids on this trip, along with a family or school volunteer, we are also asking for sponsorship from businesses and corporations.

I’m not asking for money from individuals, because so many of my friends are in the same tight circumstances as I am.  I just don’t have any personal connections with businesses practicing this kind of inclusive sponsorship, and I thought one or more of my friends or followers might.  (Maybe a comic publisher, or a game developer.) And I don’t normally ask for post sharing or likes, but that’s how social media works, so I would really appreciate it this time.  More eyes on this post could make all the difference for someone having difficulties raising the money.

Questions about sponsoring the OPC Job Shadowing Cruise should be sent to:

• Benjamin Dangerfield at bdangerfield@lexington1.net
• Karen S. Rozmus at krozmus@lexington1.net

And tell them it’s for AJ and all the other kids in the OCP with big dreams!

Jak and Daxter! (My favorite cosplay picture of AJ!)

Until next week, Happy Writing!