Here’s a confession: I’ve spent countless hours on this post only to start over and over again. I have so much to say, but I’ve learned that most of you will only read 300-750 words… and I’ve already used about 40. My solution: front load the important stuff, followed by a spilling of Ali(ssa) Pollard’s guts. Read what interests you, but please at least the front-loaded info.
From College to a Career: aka “The Important Stuff”
In high school, I stepped back from sports and poured myself into my music and learning more about inequality. After a few experiences volunteering both locally and globally, I found myself passionate about understanding the root causes of human rights violations and how they persist. Specifically, I found an interest in raising awareness about the local human trafficking industry and helping people realize what they can do to stop it.
I became an advocate with Dressember in high school and started writing reports and projects on the topic. I also founded my school’s Global Outreach Club with some friends and started some fundraising for other global nonprofits. I thought this pursuit of justice was just a hobby that would go alongside a STEM career since I had done well in math and science classes at school.
Coming to college, I found my passions lay too deep to not be pursued academically. I found a major in the sociology department, focusing on the law, criminology and deviance track and two minors in political science and Spanish.
I’ve also been able to work in a variety of settings including:
- HECUA’s Inequality in America semester
- CURA’s community organizer training
- Two internships with Dressember
- An internship and fellowship with ACER.
Through this, I found a passion for understanding injustice and the ways to combat it through social movements, policy, and legal advocacy.
Alongside my studies, I became more involved with the chapter of International Justice Mission (IJM) on campus and am now the president. IJM is the largest anti-human trafficking organization in the world and I fell in love with their restorative justice model for combating violence against the oppressed.
I’m so excited to say that after graduating in May, I will be working with IJM’s Bolivia field office from September 2019 until September 2020. As a Government Relations and Advocacy Intern, I will get to work alongside a team of government workers, lawyers, and other nonprofits to see what each of their roles are in combating human trafficking.
The field office is run by native Bolivians, so I will be using my Spanish and supporting them however I can. Not only will I be able to see first hand how IJM works, offering an international perspective to fighting inequality in comparison to the local one I’ve been exposed to at school, but I will get a better idea of which career path my skills are best suited for.
I have signed a contract for 40 hours of work a week with the largest anti-human trafficking organization in the world. I am stoked, but also overwhelmed by the bumpy road ahead.
I would love for you to consider partnering with me in this journey financially, spiritually and/or relationally.
Financial Support: $24,875 to Go…
My next steps with the fellowship are twofold: going to orientation and raising the full $25,000. Because this is an unpaid position, I will need to cover all living expenses while I am abroad (you can read more here). I will not be able to sustain myself without your help and any amount that you can give.
Unfortunately, I have met many dead-ends with finding an organization to facilitate my funds for me and would appreciate any prayers you can offer that I find something fast. Until then, I ask you to reconsider your need for a tax deductible receipt and give through the paypal link below. This also allows me to receive every penny of your donation and not lose any of it to a processing fee.
Here is where the extra reading comes in for those who want to walk alongside me in this journey on a more personal level. I do not take fundraising lightly, especially since this is directly sponsoring the work that I will be doing. While you support me, I want to be open and share exactly how your encouragement (financially, spiritually, and relationally) is sustaining me. I also want to preface that a lot of my processing includes my faith. If this is a concern of yours, feel free to skip ahead to “relational support.”
Spiritual Support: Identity Crisis
Throughout college, I placed my worth in all of the wrong things. I stayed busy by joining the ultimate frisbee team, making the jazz band, joining the University’s chapter of IJM, and a Bible study. With all of the scheduled activities, it left me little room for my personal faith and checking in with how I was truly doing. This meant that when I was no longer able to keep up with everything, I felt like I was losing myself. Rather than taking that time to refocus my identity, I continued going through the motions of my busy life apathetically. I won’t turn this into a mental health/spiritual warfare post, but I recently realized my perspective had fallen far off course.
If everybody else around me likes me, and if I can support them through their hardships, then it doesn’t matter that I don’t like or accept myself.
It doesn’t take a genius to see how unsustainable that is, but I was covering some serious self doubt and hatred through a variety of activities, relationships, and projects – placing my worth in how you all saw me. This past semester, I stripped myself of the distractions and did some intense internal reflection. I signed up for a “Freedom Encounter” and a book/Bible study on recentering your identity in Christ. Know that I did all of this incredibly grudgingly, I saw how cheesy it was, but I felt like I had nowhere left to turn.
I’m still far from loving and accepting myself for who I am, but I’m leaning into the fact that God already does. As basic as it is, remembering that my worth does not come from what I do, how well I do it, or how many of you support me through it, has been life giving. Turns out Jesus loves me even when I can’t. Who knew?
While I’m proud of the progress I have made, this will be an incredibly important lesson and truth to hold on to, especially in this field of work. Please pray that I continue to find my confidence through seeking Him and that I focus on His love. Pursuing this internship without these truths will drain me before I even step on the plane.
I am more than an athlete, more than a musician, more than a student, and even more than the anti-human trafficking girl. I am fully loved, accepted, and forgiven and I can’t wait to more fully come to terms with that.
Current Prayer Requests:
- That my thesis presentation and defense goes smoothly and I end the semester well
- For an organization to facilitate my funds
- Continued personal/spiritual growth and acceptance
- For people willing to donate funds through Paypal
Relational Support: Missing Social Media
Because of how impersonal social media is, and how it quantifies relationships, I decided to deactivate my Facebook and Instagram accounts. I’m not trying to turn this into a cliche “girl ditches social media to find herself” post, but by continuously having insight into everybody’s lives I found myself playing the comparison game and furthering my own unhealthy tendencies.
That being said, I know that support systems and social media are two very different things. I would not have made the progress I have if it weren’t for all of the love and support each of you has shown me. I also know I can’t make it any further without continued love and support. Preparing to move to another country, another continent, a completely different hemisphere, is terrifying. I’m an adrenaline junky, so the adventure is alluring, but I know it will not be easy. Staying in touch with you will be the only thing that carries me through this journey, and yes I truly mean YOU.
Even if we have never talked, or not in a while, you have taken the time to make it this far down the post. You’ve given my thoughts validity and shown that you care. Intentional relationships and support are so important to me so please shoot me a text, Facebook message, email, call, comment… whatever works for you. I would love to talk with each and every one of you about what this experience entails and where I am at in the process.
Finally, please share this with others. I am relying on all of you to help spread the word and expand our network. The more people who can join this journey, the more successful it will be. While I wish I could physically take everybody with me to Bolivia, it turns out you all have different plans (or you would’ve applied to be my coworker). Join my support network and we can help take care of each other from afar.
Please subscribe (right below) to this blog to stay up to date. I will be posting more regularly now that school is wrapping up and the onboarding process with IJM continues. I cannot wait to share more as this journey progresses.
We love you and will have your back!!💕💕💕
My one and only child, a daughter 23, had some hardships too from middle school through high school and into college. She was able to pull herself up but with lots of support! It’s a tough era you “kids” are in! But you are re-building your future which is THE future for all! I, appreciate your efforts, your determination, your drive, your purpose, you grit and your love for surviving! You are in my prayers and may this path you choose at this Y in road give you the courage to choose the many more Y’s you will come to!