Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
It was hard to believe that the dark cloud that was my exam results last year would have any silver lining. And yet here I am, 16 days away from boarding a plane from Newcastle - London - Hong Kong - Bejing, a trip which I wouldn't even have considered had my results been any different. The plan that me and my referee made this time last year (although it seems like eons ago) is that I would apply for university on deferred entry, allowing me time to improve my grades. Once this plan settled in my mind it was only a matter of deciding what to do in my year out.
Choosing Project Trust (PT) now seems like an inevitability. The diversity, length and freedom within projects sets the charity apart. As the projects last a full year there is a real opportunity to get fully immersed in a community and make a real difference. Many gap year companies are incredibly structured, with day plans and such, while PT really allows you to make the most out of your own year. A recent article in the telegraph sums up what a wonderful organization PT is:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10201359/Goodbye-Gap-yah-hello-good-works.html
Now that I had decided who I wanted to go with it was a matter of getting selected! Selection involved planting potatoes, writing an essay on current affairs, giving two lessons to other potential volunteers and various interviews. While an incredibly intense few days they were also really fun and firmed in my mind my choice to go away with PT. I found out I was selected to go to China while on holiday, and couldn't stop smiling! And so fundraising began...
Now £5400 is a lot of money. In the context of my savings, £5400 is an enormous amount of money. I began raising this total by writing to 158 charitable trusts (with lots of help from my parents), this would eventually yield close to £2000, a great start! I also held several fundraising events; from cake stalls to car boots to a race night. These all took a reasonable amount of effort and in total raised close to £500. Halfway. An unexpected (and largely unplanned) source of fundraising came from my Mums kennels. In return for an extra walk or play session I asked for a voluntary donation, this raised close to £2000 (a quick thank you for those reading who contributed to this total!). Finally I completed my fundraising effort by filling in the remaining gap with my saving. Who said £5400 was a lot of money?
Going to training knowing my fundraising was over was a huge relief, allowing me to fully concentrate on absorbing all the information thrown at me. I'm pleased to say all the China volunteers are great, can't wait to get out to Bejing with them and start seeing China.
And that's about it, a summary of the last hectic year of my life. Lets hope the next is just as hectic!
Thanks for reading, next week I'll talk about my project in China and after that I'll be reporting in from Heathrow and beyond!
P.S. The beautiful China visa has arrived, let's hope that is an indication of how beautiful the real China is!
- comments
Gareth Hopkins Wow! That sounds like a tremendous amount of work and energy to get you to this place! Good for you! You have obviously earned this! It sounds like this trip is going to be a really life-changing experience for you, and you are totally going into this with the right attitude. One of the last things Aunty B. wrote me before she passed away was: "Enjoy every day, always." Reading your blog, it sounds like you are really personifying those words, and I am sure she would be very proud of you. Safe travels, and I'll be sure to check back in with you when you get to China!
John rowland Great blog keep it up nice thAt Gareth replied
Stephen Rowland Thanks Gareth, very encouraging words. The blog should get more interesting once i get to China; can't wait!