Causecast

ABOUT ME:

Truth be told, I’m a bit of a nerd. I am one of those kids who actually…I don’t know, enjoyed school. In fact, I was involved in just about everything on my campus. I love challenging myself, which is why I LOVE having the position of editorial intern here at Causecast. No, I am not trying to play Teacher’s pet, I genuinely love my job. I am able to research a variety of world events, from dolphins in Japan, to Cambodian landmines, to the Brazilian Amazon…and why I will inevitably become a Vegetarian by the end of my internship… Point is, I get to research all aspects of life and how we are able to contribute our time and energy to a cause greater than ourselves.

That is what brought me here. It all happened rather serendipitously, after all, my journey to Causecast began on a bus. Yes, a bus. In April, 2009, Invisible Children hosted an event called The Rescue. In hopes that most of you have heard of Invisible Children, I will move quickly through this story. Basically, after having been “rescued” by numerous celebrities and media sources from the Los Angeles area, I was left feeling dismayed that I had not truly contributed to the cause for which I am so passionate. After listening to a galvanizing speech from the one and only, Jason Russell, I decided to leave all else behind for a journey across the nation. The Rescue Riders, a group of inspiring and dedicated individuals, gathered to raise their voices for the children of Uganda who would otherwise have no voice.

I have to admit, I was nearly disowned by my family for partaking in such a spontaneous and rather irresponsible venture. I, being an incredibly trusting individual, saw no harm in jumping on a bus with no defined destination, time of arrival or return, where I knew no one other than myself. I was able to convince a good friend to join me, however, this did little to convince my family that I do actually take my life seriously.

Anyways, with only seven minutes to gather my belongings, I was quickly on my way to an adventure which changed my life for the better. While briefly weighing the consequences of my actions (for approximately three minutes), I did not consider the good that may come to my own life through this adventure, yet, my spontaneity was rightly rewarded. I met our very own Levi Felix on that bus and that is where the story begins. The Rescue Riders traveled from LA, to San Francisco, to Las Vegas, and finally landed in Chicago at the doorstep of Oprah Winfrey’s very own studio.

Check this out…

Let’s backtrack a bit. I do have a few interesting tidbits of information that involve life prior to my cross-country adventure.

Though I had not spent much time traveling in my youth, my college years opened my eyes to the world. In the last few years I have spent time living in Spain, snowboarding in the Swiss Alps, meandering through Tuscany, missing flights in London, riding camels in Morocco, and running from elephants in South Africa. Traveling can be like a drug; once you’ve had a taste of adventure, or cultures unlike your own, you start to crave more diverse, stimulating international experiences.

Most recently, after obtaining my bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach, I decided that I owed myself a well-deserved break from the world of academia and applied for a job as a snowboarding instructor. So, in the early hours of December 26, I packed up my belongings and headed for the mountains. Mind you, I actually obtained a job before leaving home, though, I didn’t quite find a “home” to move to. I suppose I figured my lack of housing simply added to the overall adventure. Unfortunately, I spent the first two weeks living out of my car and finally crawled into the employee housing office and begged for one of their ridiculously overpriced closets that they prefer to call a bedroom.

The experience was definitely one for the records. It was refreshing to meet the worldly and adventurous youth that flock to the slopes each season. Some have been chasing winter for the better part of a decade while others pick up odd jobs every few months for the ability to explore the world. Although I am still rather dedicated to my education and the prospect of graduate school in the near future, knowing that there is a large world out there awaiting exploration is an exciting concept. I feel like this is my time to explore, create change, make an impact, and gain an understanding of the world through a global lens.

Who knows where I will end up next…but, for now, I am here in sunny southern California. This is our time. Life is an adventure. Do not allow yourself to fall into the routine that society has pushed upon us. Explore. Learn. Grow. All causes are connected. Fight for what you believe in. Walk with us, T&T, as we try to change our lives, and this office, for the better!

Oh yea…and, GO GREEN!!!