By Written by JLP, Edited and translated by Dawn | Student and Volunteer
Time flashed back to 1996, when I just graduated from elementary school. My family was too poor to support my middle school education, so I was about to quit schooling. SOAR Foundation came into my life like a striking thunder chased away the gloomy clouds and suddenly I saw that every cloud has a silver lining. SOAR is like an angel bringing light and hope to my life. I received SOAR scholarship for six consecutive years and got accepted in university with honor.
In 2015, I was invited to the twenty-year founding anniversary of SOAR Foundation in San Francisco Bay Area. It was my great pleasure to meet SOAR volunteers and alumni. Together we established alma mater scholarship, to help support future SOAR students. I also introduced my friend from hometown to be a SOAR scholarship nominator and help impoverished students to apply for scholarship. SOAR has been part of my DNA, not only helped me financially, but most importantly encouraged me and guided me towards the wonderful life path I couldn’t imagine as a poor kid from rural countryside area.
I’m very proud of being a SOAR alumnus. Among us, there are John Hopkins PHD student, financial elite working for the People’s Bank of China, teachers who returned to their hometown and educate more younger generations, ICU doctors, etc.
In this special 2020, when COVID-19 first broke out in China, SOAR donated $100,000 immediately to support. Then when it became a global pandemic and we found that facemasks were scarce, our SOAR alumni initiated mailing facemasks to the US in small packages due to the international package restrictions between the two countries. For 25 years, SOAR Foundation has helped hundreds of poor students in rural areas to continue school education and enlightened their lives. These students also have inherited the SOAR spirits and the passing the kindness and positive energy in society.
Once being a SOAR student, forever being part of SOAR family. The love and trust is unconditional and without any boundaries. I am very proud of you SOAR and thank you!
JLP
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