Jas Cruzada
For a High schooler, prom is one of the highlighted events that’s not to be missed out. Especially to Seniors since it’ll be their last year in High School and probably would want it to be very memorable.
Ashley Yong, a Senior high school student from Darrien Illinois knew this. Just like any other girls, she knows that a prom is “the pinnacle of every girl’s high school experience“. But not soon before the big night, she had a change of heart, dropped her prom plans, and somewhat arrived at a more heartwarming idea on where to spend the money she saved up for her dream prom.
Rather than going to fancy shops to get herself a prom dress, Ashley went to Costco and Walmart and shopped for everyday supplies and some 20 cardboard boxes and personally packed and distributed them to the needy in Chicago. This was her better idea of marking her high school experience.
Ashley said she felt sad after seeing photos of her friends at the prom but right after she and her father doled out the boxes of supplies, she knew what she did was all worth it.
“The reason I filmed myself assembling the boxes is to show how easy it all is. I’m a high-schooler with no job, car or really anything I own to sustain myself. Giving isn’t hard and it most definitely is not impossible,” Yong said.
CREDIT: images5.aplus.com
She spent $214.74 over 20 boxes of goodies and plans on doing the project again after the successful GoFundMe campaign. She has exceeded her $200 goal after raising $1,305 (as of this writing) and hopes to start a nonprofit organization when she’s older.
She said in her email to The Huffington Post:
“I want to get involved in the cause for which I am advocating giving my own time and work, not just my money. It’s the experiences you have hands-on volunteering and meeting people that make you a better person, not putting money into a cup.”
It’s good to know that after all that’s going on in this world, there are still some people out there, not politicians, not celebrities, not even rich businessmen, but just ordinary, young, citizens of the world who are capable and willing to help others in need in the littlest possible way they can, to set an example and inspiration for others to follow, and give hope to mankind.
Ashley may have not left a mark in the high school prom, but she definitely left a mark in the hearts of the people she chose to help.
Watch the video below:
