Helping our Local Communities Recycle

In an effort to get involved in my local community with Earth Day coming up April 22, we've decided to help local residents and businesses recycle to bring awareness to the importance of recycling our electronics. It is just too easy for our electronics to end up in the trash and ultimately in our waterways and feel there is a need to bring more awareness to the importance of recycling them.

We decided this would be a great way to get involved in our community to help everyone not only become more environmentally responsible as I offer a service to help individuals and businesses recycle but you will also be helping me raise money for my Student Ambassador trip giving me a great educational experience and helping me become more culturally aware at the same time.

If you have questions or you would like to help me raise funds for my trip by donating your old and no longer used items listed below be sure to call 952-232-1719 to arrange a pick up of your items:

• Used Blackberrys/Iphones/Smartphones 
• Used Laptops/Notebooks 
• Used Ink/Toner Cartridges

Or if you live out of state or just choose to recycle your electronics yourself, please click on the links above for each item and it will take you to a site that will let you know how you can make a little extra cash for yourself.

When we recycle, we can all make a difference in reducing pollution and it save energy since empties and various parts are able to be reused. Let's make a difference together!

Sincerely,

Selena Arriaga

January Cookie Dough Fundraiser

I would like to start out by thanking everyone who purchased my holiday gift jars. I made about three dozen gift jars and they were a lot of fun to make.


For the month of January my mom and I organized a Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraiser with six other student ambassador from Minnesota and one from Wisconsin. It was a great success for all of us despite the cold weather. Thank you to everyone who helped raise money for our student ambassador trip.The cookie dough was delivered the week of valentines day.


Slowly but surely I am reaching my fundraising goal. My trip is coming much to quick for my mom but much to slow for me.


Thank you once again to everyone who has helped me get closer to my fundraising goal.


 Sincerely,


 Selena Arriaga

Scholarship Opportunity

Below is an Essay I wrote in January for a Change My World Forever Scholarship opportunity I had with People to People.  We had a 250 word count limit and were supposed to write about how something in our life has helped develop our leadership skills as well as how this trip will change our world forever. I chose to write about how my academics has played an important role in developing my leadership skills.

They had awarded 500 $1,000 scholarships to student ambassadors around the US on February 8th. Unfortunately I wasn't one of them to win the scholarship but it was a great opportunity and learning experience to write the essay. Below is the essay I turned in for the Change My World Forever Scholarship opportunity.

 Forever Changed!

by Selena Arriaga

Academics has played a key role in my leadership development and also plays a role in preparing me for my student ambassador trip. A school project that helped was when I gave a book presentation in front of my class. It helped give me confidence speaking in front of people which I will need on this trip.

Another way academics plays a key role in my leadership development is because of my hard work. I was recently nominated student of the month for being a role model. My teacher tells me I give a hundred ten percent in everything I do and that I am a leader in class.

Going to Australia will change my world forever because I haven't been outside the US before. Traveling with People to People will help me build my leadership skills because it will help me better understand the world around me and be more culturally aware. Sharing my experience back home will help others be more culturally aware too.

This trip will also help me be more open minded to how people eat different foods and how things are done differently. As I accept and appreciate diversity, I will encourage others to do the same. I believe this will help promote peace because there will be less bullying and teasing in our schools if we all appreciate each others differences.

Going on this trip will not only help me but also help the world become a better place!

Get a Head Start on Your Holiday Baking

I am making cookie mix gift jars through the holiday as a way to raise money for my trip. You can choose from Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie mix and Chocolate Chip Cookie mix.

I am selling them for $10 a jar. Get a head start on your own holiday baking or buy them as a gift for someone else. Please call 952-232-1719 to place your order in time for the holidays.

Thank you and have a great holiday season.

Selena Arriaga

Thank You to Everyone Who Donated so far!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who donated so far. Because of  your generous donations I was able to make the first payment that was due.

I still have a ways to go to reach my goal so I will be letting you know about items I will be selling and services I will be doing through out the year to help me raise the funds needed to go.

I will be taking a babysitter training course through Red Cross in November and will be offering baby sitting and pet sitting services for anyone that needs my services during the holidays and after.

Below is also a picture of a breast cancer awareness bracelet that i am selling for $10. I only have ten of these bracelets available so if you want one be sure to get one before they are gone.

7.5" Silver Chain Bracelet with intertwined leather

and silver toggle clasp

Pink Ribbon Charm and

Silver heart that is engraved with:

"Together we can make a difference" 

with impression of pink ribbon

Thank you,

Selena

Accepted into a Student Ambassador Program to Australia.

I am excited to share my experience with everyone as a student ambassador. Even though I wont be going to Australia until next summer, my journey has begun even before getting accepted.

I got a letter in the mail this past summer saying someone recommended me to participate in People to People's program to Australia. I was very excited about it so me and my mom went to the orientation meeting to learn more about it. After the meeting we decided it was too great of an educational and life opportunity to pass up so my mom signed me up to start the approval process.

I had to get three recommendations and fill out an interview question form and bring those with me for my interview this past Sunday, September 26th.  My interview went well and I was even more excited to find out if I would be accepted or not. Two days later I got a call saying I was accepted into the program and my journey officially began.

In order to go I will need to raise $6,500 to cover all the travel, lodging food and activity costs for the 15 days I am there so am beginning my fundraising efforts by asking for donations and providing babysitting and pet sitting services and hope to also do a spaghetti dinner to help me reach my goal and making monthly payments towards the total amount.

I plan to keep everyone informed of my progress and experience on the blog here leading up to and including my trip.

Selena