Angela presents her venture, "Headlines," at the Gala
The following is a post from one of our Fellows, Angela Morabito:
This past Monday night, when most Georgetown students were celebrating the last day of classes, the Compass family had something extra to celebrate. Lohrfink Auditorium was full of Compass members and supporters for the graduation of the 2010 fellowship class.
Getting there was a process none of us will forget. From weeks of modules, coffee meetings, and mentor group activities came the community of socially-minded, creative people we call Compass. At some point, everyone was stressed. At some point, everyone was a little nervous about their ventures. At some point, everyone had to lean on each other. But at that point, on Monday night at the Gala, everyone was happy.
We were happy because we knew that the Gala was not the end of Compass. It was just the beginning of Compass, as both a program that will bring the joys and challenges of social entrepreneurship to schools across the nation, and as an ever-expanding group of friends that all of us cherish.
But the Gala wasn’t just one big party (although it sure felt like one!). Each fellow was charged with the task of giving a three-minute presentation of their ventures to a crowd of nearly three hundred people. How do we fit this past year, and all we have accomplished in it, into three-minute slices? To be honest, I don’t know how we did it – it took lots of rehearsal, and, yes, even some last-minute cramming – but Compass made it happen.
It was such an eye-opening experience to see the friends I had made throughout the year speak about their passions; there is not a single one of us who doesn’t plan on changing the world. I got to see people I usually run into in class, at the gym, or in the dining hall in a totally new way – it made me realize how thankful I am to have these people in my life, and how their talents and dedication inspire me every single day!
When it came my turn to speak, I was extremely nervous. All I could hear as I walked onstage was one high heel after the other. But as soon as I started to share my project, I felt at home. What a way to finish the Compass Fellowship’s inagural year: I had no doubt that I was in the right place, with the right people, and doing the right thing. I can’t wait to see where all of our ventures take us, or to meet the next group of fellows. To the entire Compass Team: Thank you for making my freshman year so awesome!