By: Brittany Ruiz
In college we expect our teachers to learn our names as a sign of courtesy. If we're lucky, we learn a few of our classmate’s names by the end of the semester. It is extremely rare to find a classroom that encourages students and professors to discuss more personal aspects of their lives. Our nonprofit giving class has given us this opportunity from the beginning. As we shared our stories about our histories with nonprofits, I began to realize that so many of us have been affected by the same social issues; whether that be mental health, addiction, or coming from an under resourced community.
This week we each performed two pitches of organizations that we felt passionate about in hopes that it will be chosen to apply for funding. However, many people chose to use this pitch to bring awareness to a larger social problem by sharing a personal story. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that these were powerful, emotional, inspiring. Because we have this unique classroom that encourages us to share our stories, were able to connect to each other and realize that we are not alone. The connection we have built with each other will ultimately help us collectively choose a deserving organization that we all feel close to either directly or through each other.
As Mary-Kate stated in a former post, learning about the variety of nonprofits from those who have a personal connection with them has reaffirmed my love for sociology and helped me navigate possible career paths. Before this course, I was not aware of how many nonprofit organizations there were in our area; and, more importantly, how many of them have touched my own life. I have quickly grown a sense of gratefulness and hope knowing that our class will soon be contributing to an organization that will transform lives. The Learning by Giving foundation has not only given us the opportunity to learn about philanthropy, but it has given us a space to share intimate stories with our peers and build a supportive community.
