Share Your Experiences with "Everyday Ambassador": a public service and global citizenship movement

#DailyWings: "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." -Leo Tolstoy

Happy October, everyone! Autumn is finally here -- bring out the turtlenecks, brew that hot cocoa and jump in a pile of just-raked leaves! With autumn comes so many possibilities for change and surprise. The temperatures here in Chapel Hill are fluctuating daily, and Mother Nature seems to be as undecided as I am when I pick outfits in the morning. This afternoon, I met with a friend over hot chocolate at The Daily Grind, a small espresso cafe by the campus bookstore, watching the rain drizzle outside and chatting about history, movies and books. What could be better? 

Today I want to take this chance to introduce a website that I am a part of. Since this summer, I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve as curriculum developer for Everyday Ambassador, "a movement for responsible global citizenship in a digital world." At EA, we believe in the importance of cultural understanding, human connectivity and public service, no matter where you are. The Everyday Ambassador team is in the process of organizing workshops, developing a related curriculum and launching the "EA TV" video series. 

We feature 500-800 word posts from a variety of contributors -- members of nonprofit organizations, active individuals, global travelers -- who share their experiences with engaging in public service. These posts are published on our blog multiple times a week, so if you're interested, please feel free to contact our community manager, Meg VanDeusen, at meg@everydayambassador.org.

Reading about lessons learned during gap years abroad, support networks used to facilitate communication for aid workers, and transformations in the public service mindsets of so many everyday ambassadors each week reminds me why I keep going, and why I am a part of EA. How can I not feel motivated to take action when there is so much going on in the world around me? Everyday Ambassador constantly reminds me that it's never too late to make a change for the better, no matter how small that change may seem. Whether we are striving to keep an open mind, maintain good intentions or break down the barriers that are blocking our goals, every step counts. 

These days, I am trying to move beyond a fear of failure. That fear only leads me to doing nothing. I am tired of doing nothing. I want to do things that will make me proud to say, "I tried." Perhaps life isn't about success and achievements, but rather all the things we did to get where we are. The blood and sweat and tears and time well-spent, well-shed. Even if we don't get the results we'd hoped for, we inevitably come out of the experience changed, often for the better. And, hopefully, so do the people whose lives we touch. We can say we did our best. 

As always, the hardest part about anything is taking the first step. Making the conscientious choice to move forward, even if we're not sure where that step will take us next. I wonder where we will be once we take that chance? 

If you're interested in what Everyday Ambassador is all about, check out our Twitter and Facebook, where we share meaningful articles and thoughtful discussions. Join us in the conversation! We would love to hear your thoughts.

Wendy Lu

Share Your Experiences with "Everyday Ambassador": a public service and global citizenship movement

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WWW: Why Websites Wule

QOTD: If you could choose to live any one decade from history, which one would you want to live through and why?

We live in a digital age. Smartphones, iPads, social networking, GPS systems, Skype...all of that is a part of this generation. The Internet is not just a hobby for us anymore. It's a lifestyle. We have changed the ways in which we communicate with others and share our ideas. While I will always have a soft spot for the printed media (in fact, I vow to never buy a Kindle), seeing the effects that this has had on the way our society interacts has been nothing short of remarkable. 


Nowadays, we are able to discuss our opinions through forums and can even comment on blogs and Yahoo articles. Those are our outlets of discussion, and I personally think they are a lot easier than debating face-to-face, which can be intimidating. I know I feel more nervous about speaking my mind with people when I am with them...but the Internet is different. You can think before you type and there's a lot less pressure of writing certain opinions. You can think the matter through, and you don't need to endure of those awkward moments or be aware of certain social cues.


I have an especial affinity towards blogs (which may not come as surprising). Unfortunately, people tend to view blogs as less formal, which is probably due to the fact that basically anybody can post and write anything they want online via outlets such as Wordpress, tumblr and even Facebook statuses. Yet, at the same time, anybody can type something on Word and print that out too and staple it and call it a magazine. Just because you write for a magazine's blog doesn't mean you're not writing for the magazine, because you are. Just through a different medium. Insightful and informative blogs may not be magazines, and they may not be the daily newspaper, but they deserve respect too. In many ways, they are currently shifting the way we as a people think and perceive the world more than any other media today. 


If anything, the Internet has made the spread of news and opinions even better. It's faster, easier and more convenient. Every time a major world event occurs, the news goes viral online. This leads to discussion, communication and notification to other citizens all over the world in a matter of hours, even moments. (Don't tell me you didn't Tweet about Bin Laden's death.) The spread of the news is instant. In the past, perhaps people would have called each other's friends on the phone, and citizens would have waited until the next day's issue of the newspaper came out with more details. Now, we barely have to wait long before the AP comes out with a new updated article online. 


Of course, that's not to say we should all sit on our butts all day staring at the computer screen replying to the comments on Yahoo articles. I just thought I'd point out some of the meritorious effects that the Internet has had on society, since I am constantly going ga-ga over books and rejecting new technology. But enough of my chatter. I'd love to know what you think. 

How has the Internet changed the way you send and receive news? Has it been an asset or hindrance to your life? 

WWW: Why Websites Wule

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Twitter + Tumblr = #success

Welp. I have joined Twitter and tumblr both in one week. I guess it's time for me to fully embrace the perplexing, overwhelming world of social media! #excitement (Hmm I still am not used to adding hash tags to words like that)

I just wanted to let all of you know that there are now other ways of contacting me and keeping up with TRA updates. 

Twitter: mainly for following my friends and keeping up with the news as well as provide another source for readers to discover The Red Angel Blog. @xtheredangelx

*Fun Note: My background (which happens to be a Twitter premade) matches my blog layout exactly! Thought that was cool. 

tumblr: this is simply another branch off of The Red Angel blog (which is where you are at now), except it's more informal, so feel free to follow if you'd like to get to know me on a slightly more personal level. xtheredangelx.tumblr.com

Additional ways you can contact me: 

Email: xtheredangelx@gmail.com

Facebook: Click here 

And, of course....HERE! :)

Twitter + Tumblr = #success

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Social Networking: Pros and Cons

Question of the Day: Do you think social networking sites are worth the time?

Facebook. Twitter. eHarmony. deviantArt. Tumblr. And a thousand others. These are the names of the many social networking sites that have people all over the country--and, indeed, the world--on their electronics for hours at a time. "Friend" has become a verb, and the members of the opposite sex are meeting up after being introduced to each other online. Even companies are advertising online with their own FB groups, attracting costumers by posting pictures of their products and special Sales.

There is so much that is done through the World Wide Web, and scientists are working everyday to create even more technology--electronics that are even faster, easier to use, and ultimately better than their precedessors. Better electronics means more ways to use the Internet, and nowadays the use the Internet often means the use of SNS. Honestly, I can't walk into any Lecture class 5 minutes early and not see at least ten or fifteen people Facebook stalking.

Now, I have to admit that I am one of those people who enjoys socializing online. Indeed, I also have a Facebook, and used to have a Myspace as well. And, of course, I have a Blogspot. xD But of course, everything has something good and something bad about it, not excluding SNSs. The question is, are the pros worth going through the cons?

Major Pros:
-Easier communication with friends, family, and acquaintences. You can keep up with what your high school sweetheart is up to now as well as advertise Yard Sales and other Events
-Globalization. People from Asia can talk to people from England, and so on. The sharing of each other's cultures, beliefs, and ways of living are exchanged and overall humans become more aware of what else is going on around the world and just how similar/different people of another race or culture is. These sites connect the world.
-Boosts economy in a way, what with advertising of company/individual products and online selling/buying and collaboration of businesses.
-Saves time. If you want to advertise a Birthday party, yard sale, wedding, or other event, you can just make an event and invite your friends digitally
-Critique. On deviantARt, Blogspot, etc. you can post your thoughts, reviews, artwork, and writing and gain feedback. And vice versa.
-Fast, easy, efficient.

Major Cons:
-Risk on your safety. There have been numerous incidents of people--young and old, male and female--getting kidnapped, raped, or even killed after meeting their online beaus in real life. Besides, you never know when some creep is looking at the photos you just posted of you in your bathing suit at a beach party.
-Scams, viruses, and identity theft. There's nothing more horrifying than these three things.
-You need to GAL, as in Get A Life. Sure, the people you talk to and socialize with on the sites are REAL people, but there comes a time each day where you need to go outside and play ball and smell the fresh air. Look at something OTHER than your computer screen.
-It's more likely you'll get arthritis and other hand/wrist-related injuries. But of course, you can get those not just from social networking sites but from being on the computer too long, period.

So, my lovely bloggity friends: What do you think about social networking sites? Do you think the pros outweigh the cons, or vice versa? What social networking sites do you use, and for what purpose (advertising, keeping in touch, etc.)?

~TRA

P.S. I absolutely PROMISE that my next post will not be about the digital era! =P Promise.

Social Networking: Pros and Cons

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