The Next Big Thing

Since I’ve been in DC I’ve come across good food, great drinks, and even better experiences. Having your twenty-first birthday two days after you start a W&M program in DC could either be trouble, or the ultimate networking opportunity. The second week of my internship, my organization went to happy hour at the Blackfinn Ameripub. Even though I chose not to drink, I still had the option without awkwardly having to tell my co-workers I wasn’t of age. I sat in on great conversations, and got to know people outside of our working walls. Surprisingly, I wouldn’t compare the food here in DC to what you would eat in places like Italy or Greece, but the experiences are top of the line.

August 12th, the Washington Nationals are pairing with SOS Children’s Villages to raise money in support of orphaned, abandoned and other vulnerable children around the world. As a baseball fan, it’s great to see the money you spend on one ticket being contributed to something even greater than that baseball game. The truly amazing part about this event is not just the monetary contributions, but also Capri Everitt, an 11-year-old SOS ambassador who will be singing the United States national anthem. Capri and her family have traveled around the world for the last nine months with their campaign, Around the World in 80 Anthems. Capri has used her talent to sing the national anthem of 80 different countries, in 46 different languages. Having the opportunity to see her perform with passion and care is an inspiring experience for all.

Capri has mentioned that she wants to help the millions of orphaned children impacted by conflict, malnutrition, disease and other unfortunate circumstances.

“Every-child deserves to have a voice that stands up for them, I hope to use my voice to help children get access to clean water, food, and a safe roof over their heads.”

If an 11-year-old is dedicating her life to making a difference in the world, doesn’t it make you wonder about the difference you could make? Being in DC has offered so many opportunities to be a part of something bigger than myself. Sometimes, it’s difficult to separate a busy work life from events like these, but once you do, it is well worth the time.

Check out more about SOS Children’s Villages.

Kady Kriner
LCE ’16