What would you do for free?

What would you do for free?

When I start going crazy with travel plans to international destinations, and nothing else, I know that I value our global community as much as I value my small Colorado/Michigan/Chicago community. We have been given this beautiful world to explore, experience and impact. Why not extend my hand as far as I can travel?

For free? All I need is an airplane!

I would mentor high school graduates that want to take a gap year in South America. I'd help them find volunteer positions, a place to live with familiar host families, and prepare a budget for their trip.

Our college study abroad trip allowed us to travel all throughout Chile

For free? I would travel the world in search of NGOs in developing countries that were locally started, and receive local support and study how they operate - and share their successes with the developed world. We need to work with them to support their development!

With endless money? Stock up on foodie ingredients and cook and bake for my blog! The world needs to eat, and drink, so why not help?

With no budget? I would take first generation high school juniors from low-income families on college trips around the country. I'd arrange for them to stay with a college student for a night in the dorms, go to class with their mentor student, and experience their daily life. Then, I would work with them to plan for college, prepare for their first year, and set them up with a mentor for their first year away from home.

With no need for money? I would share my knowledge and skills as a math teacher with new secondary ed math teachers around the country that are not receiving professional development support at their schools. I would coach them, provide feedback, and encourage them.

If I were to write a book...I would get bored after one day of trying. Then, I would go for a run to shake off that idea and search for the next new career.

With limitless cash? I would pay off Congress and get a few education reform bills passed. I would start with dissolving the teacher unions and teacher tenure in the K-12 system. Then, I would throw cash at highly effective school leaders for development. As a result, I would throw cash at failing school districts and make them go learn from the best in their state. Then, I would throw a cash bonus at all teachers who make significant gains with their students in one academic year. And, increase their salary so that teacher's are paid comparable salaries to the people they have taught: doctors, lawyers, judges, consultants, reality TV stars, movie executives, etc.

In the end, all this stems from one desire: to make the world a more enjoyable place to live. Educate our youth so that they can be informed global citizens and find solutions to our world's most pressing issues. Educate our ignorant citizens about education so that they can transform their communities to be more open-minded, more secure.

The one thing I would do for free - serve others.