Nanchang Welfare Institute: GoFundMe
Distinguish between ethical and unethical conduct in professional lives.
At the beginning of 2017, I made the radical decision to stop playing soccer and softball at Randolph-Macon College. Instead, I wanted to go back to my hometown, Nanchang, China, and study abroad in the same city I was adopted from nearly 20+ years ago. However, before I left, I wanted this trip to mean more than just a mere exchange. Instead, I wanted this trip to be dedicated to the children still currently living at my orphanage. Most of who were disabled.
I created this GoFundMe Page about a month before my junior semester abroad. Beforehand, I spent months planning and creating video, blog, and social media content to help raise awareness about my story and my cause. My initial hope was to raise $1,500; however, with the help of family and friends, we DOUBLED this goal within a little over a week.
On November 3, 2017, I hand-delivered the money to Nanchang Welfare Institute and presented early Christmas gifts to most of the orphans. I will never forget this day for the rest of my life.
As a Chinese born-American raised individual, I grew up in a blended and loving household. I did not have questions regarding my background; in fact, I hardly thought I was any different from my peers. However, as I got older, I knew I would begin to wonder more about who I was and where I came from. Inevitably, through this entire experience, I learned more about myself than I had in the past twenty years.
I learned to accept myself more. Embrace my Chinese heritage. Be proud. Give back to others. And love unconditionally.
Overall, professionally and personally, this experience helped me recognize that one of my passions is to help others. I was also inspired by organizations such as Holt International and Nanchang Welfare after witnessing the ethical decisions that they make every day. As someone looking to venture into the non-profit sector later down the road, I believe this experience has helped me gain a higher level of integrity and compassion when leading and/or making decisions.
