>> My name is Chris Lawson.
I attended the University of Maryland College
Park, majored in African-American Studies,
the two minors, one in leadership
studies and one in [inaudible].
Me and some classmates when we were in
seventh grade, we didn't have a youth center
in the community or rec center so we decided
that we want to build one and with the help
of our teacher started researching.
And eventually, nine years later, actually,
my senior year here is when we opened
up doors, right before graduation.
So, it has been a long road, but we got it done.
I'm still on the board and that's at that
capacity that I am at now and I am just trying
to you know bring-- find revenue to bring
in more money via the heart and [inaudible]
or just networking with people
and letting them know about it.
I don't know if I have a
particular major in mind.
I think it is all about that
individual and what they have a niche
for because that will bring out their best.
If you like working with animals, then you know,
take that love and then go to search places
that have that and see even the smallest thing
that can do can spark that interest to wanting
to run the animal shelter one day
or do something of that nature.
For me is my passion became education, I think
that's a foundation for everyone is working
with students and making sure that you have the
opportunity to get to where they want to be.
That is why, you know, I wanted to have
a youth center to give those skills
or have things available for students.
So, just, I would say to the person just find
out what it is that you have a passion for
and to start small and helping out
the smallest way you can and then
that will provide you opportunity,
you'll see what other people are doing
and they might ask you for help
or you can assist or help them.
It is a tough task, but to be
charismatic, to be genuine, and just,
I think just being genuine enough, that's
it, and whatever you say and to believe
because people will try to tear you down, just
because they don't have the same interest.
And so, what are the primary reasons you have
to believe in the cause that you developed,
that you are fighting for and I will
say, just put your heart into it
because nobody wants their heart broken.
Well, at first when I was coming to undergrad,
I was thinking about doing accounting.
I started in non-profit, so instead
of paying someone to do the finances,
I figured why not gain the skills
and do it myself and I do like math.
I was a tutor, I tutored math in high school,
but then I was like, okay, I really did not want
to do this and then just trying to figure
out what it is that I do want to do decided
by trying to build up this non-profit,
this youth center for like the proposition
that I work with African-American students.
And I've always been in different organization,
[inaudible], the Leadership Minor appealed to me
and knowing how to talk to people, which
is why I chose [inaudible] as well.
So, pretty much this is like, well,
these are the things that I do,
these are the things I am going
to need to know more about
and they are available so why not get into it.
So, right after graduated, well, I applied
to Public Allies which is a medical program
and they are many throughout the region.
And so, I was able-- my luck, I was able
to use my organization as my placement,
so what Public Allies do is take individuals who
are looking to get into the non-profit sector
and build these leadership and immerse them into
these apprenticeships, as well as taking courses
and learning more about leadership and how
to network and just be in that environment.
So, my first, I did two terms,
I had to re-apply.
On my first year, I worked with my youth center
and then my second year, I worked with the ECLU
with the Education Reform Department.
Do not think that you have
it all planned out just yet.
There will be 20, 21 graduating on the college
mostly and say, you have the rest of your life
to forgo what you want to do and
you may always change your mind.
And it is okay to change your mind, just
take the necessary steps to find out,
take the time to find out so you don't want to
be stuck somewhere that your heart is not in.