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 If there's anything I've learned from JAO & Terry...it's all about drive. It's about the motivation to want and do more...you can't always expect that an opportunity will fall in your lap...sometimes you have to CREATE the opportunity. The best thing about organizations like JAO is that once you find good support, like Terry, you can present your own ideas and know that you will have help in making them actually happen. It's all about sharing the knowledge, creativity, enthusiasm and ideas we ALL have... I try to exceed the expectations, take it one step beyond and leave a lil' of myself in each thing I do. In each new venture in life, I want a reason to look back and think, "Wow...I did that." Taking opportunities and making the most out of them...enriching people's lives, or even barely touching someone for a mere moment...it's a great feeling... To have the friendship and support of so many great individuals is something I truly appreciate and will never forget throughout my JAO experience. I will also not forget though, that all good things in life will start with ME making them happen...
 Gabby - I always like when JAO and Sky Scraper come to play with us. I'm gonna be in JAO too when I grow up. Roberto - JAO is cool because they always come and play games and bring lots of food and prizes and stuff. Mayumi - JAO is so much fun. They have cool things like a luau, and Halloween and Christmas parties, and they come play with us and teach us things at our school. Danny - We get to do a lot of cool things because of JAO like have a bunch of parties and learn about helping other people and playing basketball. The JAO people are my friends. Sharon - I like being a Jr. Optimist. It's a lot of fun and we get to do a lot of neat things.
 Having served in other community organizations, I thought I knew what to expect when I came to the Optimists. What I didn't really factor in is that I wasn't just joining another service club, I was joining JAO. . . You might not get that, but volunteer enough and you'll see what the group you're with can mean towards maintaining your motivation (and sanity!). I swear, to be surrounded by so many selfless people that you'd think get paid by volunteer hours yet somehow manage to be leaders in both their service AND their work . . . it ain't such bad company. And even better actually is knowing that all these guys really have my back (that means "give me support¨ for all you old schoolers). Seriously, aside from all of the service stuff we do, and we do A LOT, I really see these guys as friends . . . and I don't mean just chummy friends, I'm talkin' "let's kick it this weekend¨ friends. Summin' it up, JAO is all about having fun while doing good.
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