Why Lizz is Psyched to be Interning with GFC

•   By Lizz

There are a few reasons I wanted to work with Giving Foundation for Children when it came time for me to seek an internship. For one, I am always looking for ways to give back to the community, and I especially like helping groups that are underrepresented, like children and those with special needs. There is just something about giving back to the world that makes me feel like the time I’m spending on Earth is worth something that will last longer than I do.

Another reason I was psyched to work with GFC is that the story of how the organization started is so compelling. The fact that one little girl’s book could make such a difference is so inspiring; and the opportunity to play a part in this amazing organization was something I just couldn’t pass up.

The third reason is tied to the first. I am currently working on a Master’s in Literary Studies and will be going on to get a Master’s in Library Science because I have always loved literature since I was a little girl. Throughout my English program at USF I have noticed that the department is not very diverse. After a little digging, I found that this often holds true across universities. I have also been reading a lot lately about how the Humanities are somewhat in trouble, and English is particularly on a serious downturn in terms of interest. So I started thinking, if English departments are in trouble, and underprivileged kids are in trouble, if we bring them together, they might be able to lift each other up! I realized that, once I am working in a library, I can create a program to get inner-city kids interested in English and Literature and hopefully give both the kids and the study of Literature a boost. Working with Giving Foundation for Children is great preparation for my future program because I am learning how a non-profit can begin and grow and how it works from the inside. I am so excited to take what I am learning here and apply it to my own project in the future.

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