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Save A Smile
News Letter
Dave Pollock
Tropic, Utah
Accounting
Leadership
Save A Smile
Save a Smile was a Big Brother/ Big Sister outing where I was able to gather a group of kids together that were in need of some attention and friendship. Each of these kids have either parents that aren’t with us anymore, kids whose parents don’t pay attention to them, and parents that just don’t have time to do the simple things in life like go to the park and let the kids run wild with their peers.
What we did was went out and had a stress free day by taking them to the park for a pizza party, where we let them meet, play, and share with other kids that are in their same situation showing each other that their not alone in life. It also let them make new life long friendships that they probably wouldn’t have made if it wasn’t for this opportunity.
I was inspired to do this project because I lost a parent when I was 13. My mom passed away from cancer leaving me and my brother in the hands of my Vietnam vet father. He was amazing but didn't know the first thing about raising kids by himself. But, together we learned how to get through it together. He was a great father, but dedicated his life to helping other Vietnam vets get their life's back together. So he wasn't there for us most of the time. By doing this project I wanted to share my experience of having both a parent that has died and a parent that isn't always there.
During the Save A Smile project I ran into a couple problems. One of those problems was getting parents to let us take their kids out for a fun time at the park. The kids who have lost a parent were easy to get there. The other parent loved what we were doing. With the kids who just didn't have parents that had time for them, they were reluctant in letting their kids go. I'm pretty sure they thought that we were saying they were bad parents when really we understood that they are always super busy and just there to help.
By doing this the Save a Smile project it helped out the kids and the parents of course. But, it also helped out any kid that these kids come into contact with. These kids left there a whole bunch happier then when they got there. When kids are happy they bring a spirt of life around everything around them. But, deeper into it when they meet another kid they can share what they have experienced and let them know that there not alone in life. Also, I have had a couple parents call me and tell me thank you. Just by making new friends, the feeling of being alone has gone away. Their parents said they are way happier and are actually doing better in and actually want to go to school.
This project has helped me so much in my own life. It took this harsh feeling of life wasn't fair that i've felt this whole time growing up because of losing a parent and turned it into something positive. knowing that if what I went through can help someone else then it was suppose to be that way. Life isn't fair but we can learn how to make it better. Also, my leadership skills and public speaking isn't a fear anymore. Doing this project helped me with both of those things. i feel way more confident in leading a group of people and that anxiety I have always had is suddenly gone.
A hole in my heart was filled today. Give back what you learn when something is taken from you.
(journal entry right after project)
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