Since 2014, The Smile Project website has housed a robust blog with guest authors and special series. We’ve done highlights on other organizations working to make the world a better place (#ServiceSpotlight), entire series on Essences and resolutions, and recently a feature recognizing the folks that make up the #SmileProjectAmbassadorProgram.
As we are striving to be constantly evolving here at Smile Project HQ, we are excited to add two new features to the blog and we need your help.
People Being Rad
The first feature is called People Being Rad and it’s dedicated to sharing stories from within our community of, well, people being rad. The inspiration comes from a recent run—where I get most of my ideas. I recalled a specific memory and thought it would be fun to share in The Smile Project community but wasn’t sure I had a space for it.
It wasn’t long enough to be a standalone piece but I wanted it to have a dedicated space beyond a “Happiness is.” That’s when the idea of People Being Rad was born. This series will consist of short stories within a given theme. For example, People Being Rad: At Restaurants or People Being Rad: On Public Transportation.
We want to hear from you. If you have a story of people being rad, let us know. We hope to shine a light on the everyday awesomeness that surrounds us.
Career Corner
The second feature is our Career Corner section. About a year and a half ago, when I was looking for a new job, I spent every waking second scrolling through LinkedIn and other online postings. In researching different roles, companies, and career paths, I found myself—as I frequently do—struck by how much I don’t know.
Fast forward to a few months ago and within the span of a week, I talked to three very dear friends who work in three industries that are so vastly different from my own. I talked to one about a doctorate program. I talked to another about insurance policies. I talked to the third about adapting the healthcare industry in the time of coronavirus.
Thus the idea of a Career Corner was born. We want to interview folks about what they do or did for work, what they wish they’d known before they’d started, or what they hope to learn more about as they move through their days. There’s nothing overly formal about this. The idea is more to share knowledge and possibility.
Growing up, we respond to the jobs we can see. I wanted to be a veterinarian because I love animals. I wanted to work at Dunkin Donuts because my neighbor did and told me at the end of the day he got to take home leftover donuts. And, most importantly, I wanted to be a writer because books were something I could see and feel. It was my tangible love. But I think about these things now and realize I wanted those things because I didn’t know what a communication and development manager at a nonprofit organization did. Nobody tells their 1st grade yearbook they want to be a consultant for a production company.
We don’t know what we don’t know and we can’t understand what we don’t see. We hope you’ll consider sharing your career story with us so that we can encourage big dreams in our community… and not just for new graduates, but for all of us. To learn, to grow, and to believe.
If you are interested in sharing your story or nominating someone else to be recognized in an upcoming post for People Being Rad or the Career Corner, let’s be in touch.
Love always,
Liz
