Friday, December 4, 2009

Welcome!

Welcome to my virtual portfolio! Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, it was created to give a small look inside my academic accomplishments, work experience, interests, and future plans. I have included my resume and other interesting things for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy browsing my blog as well as develop a better understand of who I am. Once again, thank you for visiting and enjoy!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Letter of Intent

Dear Viewer,

First, I would like to thank you for visiting my virtual portfolio. I have worked very hard to construct this site to provide you with some insight as to who I really am, as well as my hunger for academic and professional success. My many experiences have supplied me with more than enough knowledge and ability to be a benefit to your organization.

After my undergraduate years are complete at The College of New Jersey, I plan to attend law school. Therefore, I am currently seeking an internship within the field of law. I have always had a strong interest in law and I am prepared and driven to continue to work hard and reach my goals. My drive and eagerness to grow in this field has been evident through my past internship experiences with The Superior Court of New Jersey. Even though I decided on law as a career path early on in my life, I have always been unsure as to which field of law to practice. However, through a recent service trip to Nicaragua, I realized my calling and I knew that practicing human rights law had without a doubt become my purpose. I have a strong passion for community service and non-profit organizations as I served a one year term with the domestic Peace Corps, AmeriCorps USA, and I am also a Bonner Community Scholar at The College of New Jersey.

I encourage you to read my biography and other experiences I have shared throughout blog. I believe this portfolio reflects my passion to help others. Thank you for taking the time to view my blog, if you have any questions, feel free to email them to me at carey8@tcnj.edu . Thank you again.

Best,

Lasha Carey

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Biography

I am a 20-year old junior Political Science and Communication Studies double major with a minor in Economics at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing, New Jersey. Within my Communication Studies major, I have a concentration in Public and Mass Communication. From 2008 to 2009 I served a one year term with the domestic Peace Corps, AmeriCorps. At TCNJ, I am a Bonner Community Scholar. The Bonner Foundation partners with colleges and universities around the country and give service based scholarships to a select number of students. Bonner Scholars at TCNJ are required to complete a minimum of 300 community service hours in the Trenton, New Jersey area per school year, attend various trainings and conferences, and keep a certain GPA in order to receive the scholarship and remain in the program.

As a Bonner Scholar at TCNJ, I focus mainly on the issue of homelessness. I do most of my service at the Trenton Salvation Army where I teach a Life Skills: Job Readiness course to adults. The course consists of teaching basic computer skills, resume writing, interviewing skills, etc. The ultimate goal of the class is for each student to find employment. Several times a month the Salvation Army runs a youth program where I do activities and crafts with homeless children. I also participate in the Mobile Feeding Unit that the Salvation Army does. We prepare food and drive into the poorest of neighborhoods in Trenton and distribute hot meals to all those that need one. I also have an interest in urban education and I have the pleasure of tutoring and mentoring children at an afterschool program held at Hedgepeth-Williams Elementary School in Trenton.

My passion for service and helping others has opened my eyes to see the career in which I am called. This past summer I was fortunate enough to go on a service trip to Nicaragua with a non-profit organization called Witness for Peace. Doing service in a poor urban area such as Trenton during the school year is a lot to handle, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come during my three week adventure in Nicaragua. I saw the unimaginable, people living in trash dumps, houses made out of cardboard and plastic, and people desperate to get the attention of their government. At this moment, a fire was lit; I realized my calling.

It was undeniable that my passion was for human rights and activism. After graduating from TCNJ I plan to go to law school and pursue a career in human rights law. I hope to never lose the spark to help others I felt when I saw my fellow humans living in such extreme poverty and no one doing anything to help. I hope I never lose the inspiration I received when talking with the Nicaraguan people. And I hope to never forget how blessed I am that I’m in a position with the power to help others.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Resume and Cover Letter

Below you can find my resume and cover letter. They will provide you with a look at my past work experiences and accomplishments.

Resume
Cover Letter