Do you have heart?

Philanthropy starts from the heart. The causes we support and give our time, energy, and resources to have their own origin story. We all have those stories and experiences in our lives that have moved us to make meaningful choices. Whether that is choosing your major in college or choosing the lifestyle you want to live, our experiences shape those decisions. Personally, my background working in the healthcare setting and meeting some of the most inspirational people pushed me to become involved in projects and non-profits like Breakthrough Miami and the Children's Miracle Network. Having those experiences working with children and their health needs serves as fuel to my motivation of being philanthropic in those respective fields. Starting in philanthropy can be much simpler than most people think. It does not require money or large amounts of resources. It is about using our passions to drive the change we hope to see.

Throughout the past few weeks, I have introduced you to many philanthropists in South Florida and their efforts to make an impact in the local community. From the School of Hospitality at FIU to the men and women at Breakthrough Miami changing kids' lives, it has shed some light on the amount of work and dedication that goes into producing tangible change. Today, I would like to share Ms. Greta Moncayo, a Florida International University master's graduate. She is also the Donor Relations Representative of WAY FM, a national Christian radio station. She has served the non-profit radio station for fifteen years now and does not plan on slowing down. Her passion for non-profit started with working at a shelter back in Pennsylvania when she was in high school. Helping her hometown motivated her to pursue a master's in educational leadership at Florida International University. In her interview with Professor Fang Shu, she mentions some of the best advice I have heard throughout my college years which is to not strive for perfectionism, but instead strive for excellence. This statement resonates with me because often times I find myself trying to be perfect in what I do without realizing that it is holding me back. This was especially true when I was beginning to draft my Civic Engagement project trying to make sure the work did not have any flaws. I learned that it is better to learn along the way than to stop on the track. Just keep moving forward and do not allow perfectionism to be the enemy of progress.

I encourage you to go out there and pursue new experiences. Find new passions or continue to develop the ones you already have. All of us have gifts that the world needs for the better. It's your job to find it, harness it, and unleash it so that you could be the change the world needs. #fiuphilanthropy