Hi Peruanita,
Congratulations for being accepted, and I think you were right to tell
where you live.
Have you thought of talking to the service organizations in town or in
the neighboring towns. Pembroke Pines seem quite small, but there are
almost adjoining communities, it seems from the map, at least.
I was thinking of Rotary and Lions Clubs, Kiwanis, Masons, etc. (not
just in PP), and the ladies' clubs, of course, OF COURSE, if you are
girl, as I suspect from your user name.
I would suggest trying to talk to an officer of the organizations on a
personal basis to get an idea of her/his attitude, and if it is
positive, then you would have a "sponsor" to support you.
This is more work than sending just a letter, but that gets put in the
in-basket for the next meeting, and if there are more pressing items
on the agenda, they might not get down to "other", and then be tired
and just give it a quick brush-off - and you'd have lost a month
before you knew about it.
Suggest - insist - that you would like to present your request in
person. This will put a face to your request - and it will make it
more difficult for the members just to decide no. I don't expect that
many young people in PP go to Harvard, even to the summer school.
Your being accepted is a little outstanding for the community and
something to be supported. They probably won't vote or discuss the
matter in your presence, but you will know that you have done
everything you can to gain their support.
If you can present your request to more than one organization, try to
find out from your contact how much $ support could be easily
feasable, and gear your request to that.
What can you do in return: offer to speak to the clubs when you
return about your experience. Offer to work off a loan if a group
says it would like to help but cannot afford to.
Talk to the local newspaper about possible support if you write an
article when you return or send two or three reports from Cambridge.
What else: talk at the PTA meeting and tell what your plans for
further education are, and pass the hat for contributions (assuming
the officers have agreed, and then let them put their support behind
your request). Every bit helps, and the more it becomes a community
project, the better.
And if you still haven't got enough money, go back to them again.
They have already agreed that they would like to make it able for you
to go; it would be a little embarrassing if just a fraction of their
first support kept you from going.
Hard work? You're shy of speaking before groups? I doubt it, but
even so, having to do it can overcome that. And it is a good
experience and skill to learn, and - if you will - you are possibly
getting paid for it. :-)
The best of luck to you! And when you get there, greet John Harvard from me,
Myoarin. |
