Hello!

I have started this blog to share with the world my experiences that I have gained through a very unique project. I created a program that celebrates a significant birthday in a young woman's life, Sweet 16, in a new and different way. "My Sweet 16 Year of Giving Back" is a project that I created in late 2009. As I looked ahead towards 2010 and my 16th birthday, I wondered what I could do to celebrate this significant occasion in my life. It soon became very clear to me that the focus should not be on myself, but on what I could do for other people and the community around me. I decided to volunteer for 16 different service organizations in 2010 to celebrate my 16th birthday and “My Sweet 16 Year of Giving Back” was created. Through this project I was hoping to establish a better reputation for teenagers, inspire others to volunteer, and learn more about myself while helping my community. Throughout the year, I have been keeping a journal about each of my volunteer activities and I have decided to post them on this blog.