Help Amy Thrive in Scotland 2019!
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Hi everyone! My name is Amy and I'm a rising junior studying Creative Writing at Susquehanna University. My wonderful university offers each student the opportunity to study abroad to help enrich our lives and learn about new cultures. I decided I wanted to spend an entire semester in a place I've always wanted to visit, to reach these goals not only for Susquehanna, but for myself. So, this fall, I'll be embarking on my grandest adventure yet—Spending a semester abroad in Stirling, Scotland!!!
The reason I am turning to crowdfunding is because I have struggled this summer with my chronic illnesses (fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome). I came home from school in May with mono, and on top of that, had a terrible flare-up in June. Because of this, it has been very difficult for me to find a job this summer. However, I thought I would try alternate means to fund my life while in Scotland, which will double as a strategy to help myself write as much as possible. At the close of the semester, I will be compiling all the writing I do abroad (mostly poetry, but likely creative nonfiction and fiction too!) into a chapbook! This will in turn help me stay motivated to continuously write, and aid me in creating as much work as I possibly can, a mutually beneficial goal! Anyone who contributes more than $50 will receive a signed, personalized, physical copy of the chapbook upon my return in the New Year. Anyone who contributes $30 or more will receive 3 handpicked poems or prose pieces from the chapbook via email. Obviously, though, whatever you're able to contribute will help me thrive while abroad, no matter the amount!
If you're wondering what your money will go towards, it will be helping me to have the best quality of life and experiences while in Scotland—namely sourcing gluten-free and dairy-free food options (there are limited offerings on campus), additional transportation costs due to not being able to walk long distances, travel experiences related to creative writing, and additional enrichment activities. Every cent contributed will go solely to helping me navigate everyday life at the University of Stirling, to help me balance my precarious health and the amazing experience of being a travel abroad student.
If you're wondering what a chapbook is, it's a small booklet of writing, usually ranging from about 20-40 pages, although they come in many shapes and sizes. I've been lucky enough to have two experiences with chapbooks throughout my college career—My freshman year, I was chosen as the poetry winner for Susquehanna's semester-long Corona Press, and my sophomore year, I was in an Intermediate Poetry class where each of us created and constructed a 14-18 page chapbook ourselves. Since I've had both the experiences working with an outside editing and assembly team and being my own editing and assembly team, I've gotten quite good at knowing and learning the chapbook progress, both professionally and homemade!
If you're wondering what fibromyalgia is, it's a chronic, lifelong illness that causes constant musculoskeletal pain and extreme fatigue. Mayo Clinic describes it more in depth: "Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals." It impacts every single thing that I do, including my sleep, diet, clothing, nutrition, social life, and education. To elaborate a bit: I got diagnosed in March of my senior year of high school, right before crossing the final barrier to the real world. In the wake of my diagnosis was the inability to graduate on time, delaying my much desired voyage to Susquehanna. It took me two years to finally regain enough of my health to attend college as a full time creative writing student—my lifelong dream—and still influences every aspect of my life, always. This means that studying abroad is going to be my biggest trial yet, but it's something I've felt called to do for as long as I can remember. So even despite the fact that illness is always going to be part of my equation, this experience is more than just advancing my education—it's proof that in spite of pain, there's always a path to chase my dreams.
The deadline for contributing is September 1st, 2019, as I leave for my trip on the 5th of September.
If you need more information before donating, feel free to reach out by email: [email redacted]. If you'd like to preview my work, peruse my publications on my website, https://ammaaay.wixsite.com/amyjarviswriter.
Like I said before, truly, any amount you're able to contribute helps. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, and thank you so, so much for helping me fulfill one of my lifetime dreams as a student abroad!!!
The reason I am turning to crowdfunding is because I have struggled this summer with my chronic illnesses (fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome). I came home from school in May with mono, and on top of that, had a terrible flare-up in June. Because of this, it has been very difficult for me to find a job this summer. However, I thought I would try alternate means to fund my life while in Scotland, which will double as a strategy to help myself write as much as possible. At the close of the semester, I will be compiling all the writing I do abroad (mostly poetry, but likely creative nonfiction and fiction too!) into a chapbook! This will in turn help me stay motivated to continuously write, and aid me in creating as much work as I possibly can, a mutually beneficial goal! Anyone who contributes more than $50 will receive a signed, personalized, physical copy of the chapbook upon my return in the New Year. Anyone who contributes $30 or more will receive 3 handpicked poems or prose pieces from the chapbook via email. Obviously, though, whatever you're able to contribute will help me thrive while abroad, no matter the amount!
If you're wondering what your money will go towards, it will be helping me to have the best quality of life and experiences while in Scotland—namely sourcing gluten-free and dairy-free food options (there are limited offerings on campus), additional transportation costs due to not being able to walk long distances, travel experiences related to creative writing, and additional enrichment activities. Every cent contributed will go solely to helping me navigate everyday life at the University of Stirling, to help me balance my precarious health and the amazing experience of being a travel abroad student.
If you're wondering what a chapbook is, it's a small booklet of writing, usually ranging from about 20-40 pages, although they come in many shapes and sizes. I've been lucky enough to have two experiences with chapbooks throughout my college career—My freshman year, I was chosen as the poetry winner for Susquehanna's semester-long Corona Press, and my sophomore year, I was in an Intermediate Poetry class where each of us created and constructed a 14-18 page chapbook ourselves. Since I've had both the experiences working with an outside editing and assembly team and being my own editing and assembly team, I've gotten quite good at knowing and learning the chapbook progress, both professionally and homemade!
If you're wondering what fibromyalgia is, it's a chronic, lifelong illness that causes constant musculoskeletal pain and extreme fatigue. Mayo Clinic describes it more in depth: "Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals." It impacts every single thing that I do, including my sleep, diet, clothing, nutrition, social life, and education. To elaborate a bit: I got diagnosed in March of my senior year of high school, right before crossing the final barrier to the real world. In the wake of my diagnosis was the inability to graduate on time, delaying my much desired voyage to Susquehanna. It took me two years to finally regain enough of my health to attend college as a full time creative writing student—my lifelong dream—and still influences every aspect of my life, always. This means that studying abroad is going to be my biggest trial yet, but it's something I've felt called to do for as long as I can remember. So even despite the fact that illness is always going to be part of my equation, this experience is more than just advancing my education—it's proof that in spite of pain, there's always a path to chase my dreams.
The deadline for contributing is September 1st, 2019, as I leave for my trip on the 5th of September.
If you need more information before donating, feel free to reach out by email: [email redacted]. If you'd like to preview my work, peruse my publications on my website, https://ammaaay.wixsite.com/amyjarviswriter.
Like I said before, truly, any amount you're able to contribute helps. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, and thank you so, so much for helping me fulfill one of my lifetime dreams as a student abroad!!!
Organizer
Amy Jarvis
Organizer
Bristol, RI
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