Aqua Foundation Spring 2012 Newsletter

I wish I had more time. 

And I don’t just mean that I could use an extra 3-4 hours in the day to handle my job, my commitments, my social life, my chores, and the million little things that keep us all busy. I mean I wish I had more time to make a difference, to effect real change in a positive way. I almost feel like I started too late in life, and now I have to “catch up,” as it were, to what I should have been doing all along for – and with – the LGBT community.

That is largely why I volunteer for the Aqua Foundation for Women. 

When I volunteer, I become an actual part of the process by which change happens. Events don’t just happen on their own: a dedicated team of highly motivated and flexible people work hours behind the scenes to make sure everything works as it should. 

Volunteers at Family BBQ

Did you and your family enjoy the LGBT Family Picnic? It wouldn’t have happened without volunteers giving their time (and sweat!) to make that happen. Kids and parents got to meet families just like theirs for a day, probably unlike any other they have all year. Without the team of volunteers, burgers wouldn’t have been cooked, games wouldn’t have been played, and trash wouldn’t have been picked up. In short, there would have been no event. 

The same is true of every single other event the Aqua Foundation puts together, from the Aqua Affair fundraiser to Aqua Girl’s week-long series of events, both of which help fund the scholarships and grants that go out every year to LBT women, to TransCon, an event that highlights issues important to the Trans community. When I volunteer, I know those events wouldn’t have happened without people like me to make them happen. Scholarships wouldn’t have happened. Grants to organizations like Safe Schools South Florida and the Pride Center wouldn’t have happened. I go home exhausted, sure, but knowing I’ve done something good.

Now, I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was something in it for me too.  First off, volunteering is fun. I’ve gotten to know most of the “regulars,” and many of them have become great friends of mine.  It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve made more friends volunteering in the last two years than I have over the last ten. It hardly even seems like work when you’re surrounded by friends.

I also get to attend those events!  Believe me, I’ll be cashing in this benefit when Aqua Girl rolls around and I get to attend the events I’ve worked on after my shift is over. 

Lastly, I’ve met and become friends with some of the most influential members of the South Florida gay community. A little networking never hurt, right? More than once, I’ve reached out to those people when I’ve needed help or advice on a professional or personal problem. And they’ve always been there for me.

In fact, I’ve gotten so much out of my relationship with the Aqua Foundation, and I am so proud of their work, that as soon as I could I became a proud member, and have recently renewed that membership. It’s a small price to pay.

Ever since I completed my bachelor’s degree in music therapy and became a Board Certified Music Therapist, I have had the goal of obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Therapy. I sought to expand my knowledge in the field, to pursue research in the area, and to eventually be both a clinician and a college professor.

I am so grateful to Aqua Foundation for having selected me for their scholarship program. In doing so, they were instrumental to me fulfilling my life-long dream of completing my Ph.D. in music therapy. The financial and emotional support provided has been invaluable.

First of all, the Aqua scholarship provided financial support. I simply would not have been able to afford attending a private university, such as University of Miami, if it had not been for the financial support provided by Aqua over the past two years. This scholarship allowed me the financial means to have more time to dedicate to my dissertation in order to be able to complete my degree. 

Secondly, Aqua provided me with an opportunity to network with other LBT women. Several fellow scholarship recipients have become very good friends. At various Aqua events, I have been able to meet other professionals who have shared their experiences. Many members of the Board have also reached out to me, offering their guidance.

Most importantly, Aqua paired me with a mentor. My mentor provided much support, especially during the most difficult times of completing my dissertation. Meeting my mentor monthly allowed me to stay on track and have accountability towards completing my goal. My mentor served as a role model to me.

I feel deeply honored and very grateful to have been awarded this scholarship and to be a part of Aqua Foundation. I look forward to my continued involvement with this wonderful organization. I am especially looking forward to participating in the mentoring program, this time as a mentor to other women who are pursuing their studies.