Most fifth
graders think about cartoons and what they should do at recess, but Stephanie
Ray had other thoughts occupying her mind.
She and a friend worked with the school counselor to develop a program
to help needy children. Even at a young
age, she knew she wanted to affect other people’s lives.
“I knew I
wanted to do something, and I just couldn’t wait until after college,” Ray
said.
Ray, now 20, is an upcoming junior at the University of Alabama,
majoring in international studies and minoring in French. She loves music and writes her own, ranging
from indie music to folk and a little bit of soul. She used to travel from her home in Birmingham
to Nashville some weekends to perform with a band there. She was also part of a campus bluegrass band
during the spring semester that performed at some open-mic nights and at the
Homegrown Alabama market.
What she calls her “baby” is Good Alabama, a student organization she
founded and registered with UA’s The Source in February. The goal for the organization is to mentor
“at risk” children in Tuscaloosa and provide a creative outlet for them.
“I don’t want to be an organization that just drops stuff off,” Ray
said. “I want to engage.”
This summer, she has been defining the goals she wants to accomplish
with this, as well as collecting supplies and donations to build an account. She said she wants to meticulously plan
everything so the group can establish a good reputation.
In the fall, Ray will work to find as many members as she can to
join. She said she is aiming to volunteer
on a weekly basis at several group homes for youth in the Tuscaloosa area.
(I actually wrote this story beginning of August 2013. It is still relevant, and I think people should show their support for Good Alabama.)
Photo credit: Good Alabama Facebook page
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