Dear Leslie,

It is just after 10:00 on Monday, July 31st. I’ve just checked my e-mail and found a message containing not only a round-trip ticket to Haiti, but also the accommodating flights to make my travels possible. I must have sat behind my screen for 5 minutes looking at the email, giving it a chance to sink in because it felt too good to be true.

When Sara reached out to me nearly two weeks ago, inviting me to join you guys on your trip to Haiti, I immediately was reminded of my incredible experience from a few summers before. I knew I wanted to do everything I could to be able to be a part of the amazing work that your organization does. There’s this quote by Nicole Addison that goes:

You must find your why. That why that gets you up early in the morning. That why that has you staying up late. That why that keeps you going. If your why does not fill you up with a mixture of emotions, bringing with it both happiness and tears, laughter and anxiousness, eagerness and worries, then it is not your why. Keep searching until you find it.

Many people, myself included, are searching for that “why” that Addison is talking about. Though Addison only discusses one “why”, I believe that an individual can have many. While I may not know you incredibly well, this quote made me thing of you. My trip to Haiti was eye-opening. Becoming aware of the cultural differences, intellectual disabilities, was disheartening. Coming from a country where efforts to raise awareness, spread compassion and acceptance and to empower all are the norm, see that that wasn’t the case in Haiti left me feeling powerless…but not for long.

Witnessing the gratitude and surprise of each girl that Sara and tied and fitted shoes for was beyond fulfilling. Because o the sneakers you had brought, countless girls were able to comfortably participate in any activity their heart desired. I have yet to see something as beautiful as the smiles worn by each and every girl that participated in that camp.

The world needs more people who share the same vision and traits that seem to come so naturally to you. The reason that Nicole Addison quote reminded me of you is because even though I’m sure there are a million and one things, none easy, to have done in order for things to run as smoothly as they do, you get it done. I imagine that you have had to make sacrifices here and there, have had to be selfless for the sake of others. I just hope that no matter what, at the end of the day, you that all that you do does not go unnoticed. Your drive and determination to make this world a better place for everyone is unwavering.

Words cannot reflect how thankful I am to have this opportunity to work again with BoulderShares this summer, which was entirely made possible by your enormous generosity. As you may have noticed by now, I’m not very good at being concise, but I hope that I was able to convey my gratitude to you in this note. I cannot thank you enough, Leslie, and look forward to all that comes in these next days.

With love and thanks, 

Claudia