Help Carmen attend Squaw Valley Academy Summer School through Wishbone.org!

Mr. Van Engers Wants To

Send Carmen to Squaw Valley Academy Summer School

Carmen has applied to attend Squaw Valley Academy Summer School this summer and is raising funds for her program fees. Can you help?

Carmen

Interest:	Liberal Arts
Grade:	10th
School:	Abraham Lincoln High School
Location:	San Francisco, CA

Successfully funded on May 18th, 2016!

Fully funded!

$3,480 raised

$0 to go

0 DAYS TO GO

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Carmen's Story

My passion is gaining experiences.

I discovered the passion of wanting experience things by volunteering at my church. I began going to church as a child and while growing up, I have learned many things there. The church had summer camps and we would go to different places that included going camping. While going camping with my church I realized I loved experiencing new things and going to places that I have never been before. Two summers ago, I worked at my church's summer camp that had many children there, with that opportunity I realized I also loved helping others.

I believe that Squaw Valley Academy will help me explore my passion of learning because this school provides a curriculum that is different from what I am used to. This school provides a lot of extracurricular activities like horseback riding and mountain biking that can give me an eye-opening experience. This program will be the perfect place to create a memorable experience of a lifetime.

A Note from Mr. Van Engers, Carmen's Teacher

"Carmen has an amicable personality with an eagerness to meet different people, and to learn about diverse viewpoints, which I strongly believe Squaw Valley Academy can provide to her. Diverse viewpoints arise in our traditional, high school English class without fail, and from my observations, Carmen has an ability to maintain her own opinions while vocally acknowledging other students' ideas. Carmen can continue to excel in this shared setting of values and discussions at Squaw Valley Academy."

Campaign Activity

Carmen posted an update

September 1

Summer lingering in the air.

When I first arrived at SVA I was a nervous wreck, I was so worried that no one would like me, I wouldn't make any friends, and the staff would be mean. But it was totally the opposite everyone was so friendly and welcoming just like family. The students there were unique in their own individual way! While going through the campus to my dorm the campus was AMAZING. Walking into my door I was so nervous but my roommates were so nice! We warmed up with each other quickly. The 3 weeks I was there I never got homesick, surprisingly it was because SVA felt like home. The first day I even started calling our dorm parent "mom."

Everyday SVA makes sure we go out and have fun planning outdoor activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, and so much more! They made sure we were never bored by driving us around Tahoe. School was great, the teacher and student ratio was a lot smaller than my school which gave me the attention that needed to learn. With the international students there I picked up some Mandarin. The students there soon became family, we would do crazy things like sleeping on the floor or even in the hallways! The three weeks went by so fast the next thing I knew, I had to plan my departure from SVA.

The memories I had at SVA was countless. I remember watching a meteor shower on the field at 12 am in the freezing cold, singing in the laundry room with a bunch of girls during the middle of the night, having one last sleepover on the floor, going grocery shopping while I was sitting in the cart, we even got a fish named Pokemon Go who is swimming lively in one my friend's dorm, and so much more. At the end it was a bittersweet goodbye it felt as if I was leaving my family. Lastly the roommate I roomed with is currently one of the closest friends I have!

P.s big thanks to Wishbone for giving me this opportunity and changing my life!

Carmen posted an update

June 7

THANKS

Many people ask me why I am going to boarding school over the summer, and I have no explanation. I tell them I signed myself up and they look even more confused. But I explain that I wanted an experience of a lifetime and there wasn't much too lose. So thank you for all those who have donated and are a part of my journey!