Kassidy's 8th Grade DC/NY trip

Kassidy Raelyn Brandon, my brilliant, beautiful, strong, compassionate, determined daughter!

Hi, my name is Kerri Brandon and I am mom to four amazing, wonderful kids, my AWESOME gifts from God. My youngest child, daughter, Kassidy Raelyn Brandon is in 8th grade and has dreamed of an incredible life-changing opportunity to visit Washington D.C. and New York through WorldStrides with her class. WorldStrides is an organization that was founded by teachers about 50 years ago that couples education and travel in an effort to "enrich students' lives by opening their minds to the world around them, and broadening their perspectives as the global citizes of tomorrow," (WorldStrides). Kassidy has always been an outstanding student, achieving honor roll every single semester since she started school. She is seriously considering a career as a Social Science/History teacher or professor as she has been greatly inspired by her teachers and the things she has learned in her classes at North Monterey County Middle School. Since she was in kindergarten, she consistently chose to help her fellow students who were struggling academically; she has a huge heart and is always thinking of the needs of others. She is involved in student leadership at NMCMS, serving as Vice President, leading by a strong, yet humble example through her academic excellence, incredible integrity, honesty, and hard work academically and in the way she selflessly serves others. She has also participated in speech and debate as well as drama. She is deeply involved in her youth group and is always looking out for others. Kassidy loves a challenge, great or small. She chooses to face any given situation head-on and inspires others to do the same. She is already making plans for college and is very excited about her educational plan in which she hopes to earn a full academic scholarship to college, taking all honors and AP classes throughout her high school career which she has already mapped out. We are so very excited about this WorldStrides trip. We are trying to raise the funds so that Kassidy can go to Washington D.C. and New York City which we need by January 1, 2017. The purpose is multifaceted and WorldStrides says it best: it will give students the opportunity to, "actively engage with the history and culture they have only read about in class. Not only does it motivate students to love learning, it also builds their confidence. It stretches what they think is possible. It deepens friendships and builds new ones. These are experiences that truly shape their futures - and the ones that they'll remember forever." This trip means the ABSOLUTE world to Kassidy, especially as she feels it will really broaden her understanding of the history and social science of our country and the world. We believe it will truly help her in her future endeavors, whether she decides to teach at the middle school, high school, or professorial level... and trust me, folks, she is one smart, determined young lady. We would be eternally grateful for any amount that you would be willing to donate to make Kassidy's dream come true.