On January 27, 2003, the Find A Tree Program began at Roosevelt High School with in- class presentations and after school classes designed to challenge students to plant the seed of a dream in their minds and to nurture their dreams with knowledge and action. The following is an update on initial student projects.

On April 5, 10th grader Abraham Aragundi realized his dream of working with a baroque orchestra when he began his internship with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. According to Abraham, "My dream is to be in a baroque orchestra because I really enjoy music from 1600 - 1750 and I also play the cello and a little of the violin and viola. When I first attended the [Find A Tree] Program, Daniel [Armstrong] told me to practice every day. There was a problem. I did not have a cello at home. Daniel told me, 'Well, what can you do to get a cello?' I told him, 'I can give lessons and get money for doing that'. So that is what I started to do." Because of Abraham's initiative in finding his Tree and getting started, the Dare to Dream Foundation was contacted to help Abraham realize his dream. The LA Chamber Orchestra offered Abraham an internship to work with the orchestra until the end of its current season. Following his initial weekend with the orchestra Abraham enthusiastically said of his experience, "It was great!"

Thank you Jennifer Caruso and Hidden Beach's Dare to Dream Foundation and Amy Robwin of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for facilitating this opportunity.

Future architects and engineers are forming Dream Teams made up of students with a common dream. According to student organizer Peter Magallanes, 9th grade, the purpose of the Dream Team is "to help each other to reach our goals." Students will study their area of interest and do projects based on their dreams and meet professionals who work in that same area. Ruviel Ocampo, 9th grade, said about the Engineering Dream Team, "I want other students to do the same as I am doing, pursing my dream to be an engineer. My goal is get students to research more about their dream, to get more students involved and to start an engineering contest at Roosevelt. One thing I have learned from the Find A Tree class is that researching can be very helpful to accomplish your dream."

The next Engineers and Architects' Dream Team meeting will be on April 22 in room R303 at 3:20pm. This meeting will be with Enrique Salgado, a representative of Cal State LA's MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science and Achievement) program.

"I would like to make great movies of live action and animation. I would like to make films that are in the line of the classics and masterpieces, unlike many of the films today." With this dream, senior Sergio Arroyo has gotten started making his first film, entitled "Day Dreamers." Prior to filming, he wrote his script, which was reviewed and edited by English teacher Ron Baer. Then he prepared a budget and hunted down a camera and actors. Sergio has faced many obstacles to make his film, but he has never given up on his dream.

Jorge Sanchez, 9th grade, recently observed, "People believe computers are not important." Student Misael Morales, 11th grade, commented, "We must show them that their future depends on them knowing about computers!" To increase awareness and knowledge of computers, students are launching an after-school computer class. The purpose will be "to show parents and students how to use and take advantage of the computer," according to 9th grader Jose Salazar. Students have developed their curriculum and will be posting flyers announcing their first class. Thank you, Eric Carlin, for your support of the students' efforts.

Students Juancarlos Perez and Michelle Valadez, both 9th graders, dream of being artists and animators. They found their Tree and got started by producing their own comic book. Their comic book's story line is about medieval times and mistaken identity. Both students are working on the story line and the illustrations. Juancarlos encourages other students to "always have drawings, because you never know when you might run into someone who can help you." Michelle's advise to Roosevelt students is, "Never give up and no matter how lost you seem to be, if you stay true to your goal and dream you can do almost anything. Students must keep an optimistic view of life."

Singer Builds Career

Joaquin Garcia, 9th grade, has been performing mariachi music at weekend parties for over a year. He joined the Find A Tree program to advance his singing career. Through the Find A Tree program Joaquin began reading about the music business. In a recent interview he said, "From my reading I learned how artists get paid and how the industry works. From the Find A Tree class, I started reading the book What They Won't Tell You About the Music Business." Joaquin's advice to other students who want to be in the music business: "They should take action as soon as possible by reading about it and find out more about the business and the types of jobs that are in the music, so that if their singing does not work out they still can get a job in the music business." In addition to reading and performing, through the Find A Tree program, Joaquin did a telephone conference call with Karen Kennedy, an artist manager, whose firm, 24/7 Artist Management promotes the careers of performers. From her New York City office, Ms. Kennedy offered practical advice and strategies to Joaquin on how to succeed in the music business.

Students have formed a study group to help and inspire each other to learn about the entertainment business and to aid them in their pursuit of their dream to work in this industry. Students interested in joining should attend the Find A Tree class in room R303 on Tuesdays after school at 3:20pm.

Y.E.S. (Youth Entertainment Summer) to Jobs provides paid internships in the entertainment business for high school students. Through the Y.E.S. to Jobs Program, students work in television, radio, music and other entertainment-related companies. According to program director Marsha Cole, 20 Roosevelt students applied for this program following the entertainment business seminar held March 18th at Roosevelt, which and was co-sponsored by YES to Jobs. For more information on YES to Jobs, please go to www.YEStoJOBS.org.

On March 18, 85 students heard from a graduate of the Find A Tree Program, Darwin Ramirez. Darwin, who was incarcerated at age fourteen with the California Youth Authority (CYA) for attempted murder, completed the Find A Tree Program while at the CYA, and realized his dream of working in the music business upon his release. Darwin worked for BMG Entertainment in Beverly Hills. At Roosevelt Darwin spoke in the auditorium to selected students on how he went from lock-down to working in the music industry for one of the world's largest entertainment companies. Darwin also shared how the Find A Tree showed him how to live his dream. Student Edgar Tenoria said he learned from Darwin, "I have to be responsible for what I do in my life."

Students have had an opportunity to meet professionals in the fields those students dream of working in. Guests explained what they do on a daily basis, the steps they took to achieve their dream and actions the students could take to prepare themselves to achieve their own dream.

Dare to Dream Celebration

April 24 6:00pm Auditorium

Special Guests * Music * Awards

Hidden Beach Recordings, a record label owned in part by basketball legend Michael Jordan, launched its Dare to Dream Foundation with the mission to inspire, help and promote youths to live their dreams.
www.HiddenBeach.com

Thank you
Shannon McGauley, Executive Director, and Jennifer Caruso, Program Coordinator

Knowledge + Action = Your Dream

Planting Seeds and Building Hope

The student projects outlined in this update are budding examples of the potential of Roosevelt High School students. When students recognize that their peers are realizing their dreams, that will inspire them to find their own Tree and get started and share their unrealized talents, gifts and dreams. Only when there is hope can there be an expectation and then desire and motivation to learn and struggle in order to realize one's dream.

Thank you to the student who dared to dream and found their Tree and got started. Your actions have inspired others to live their dreams. Daniel Armstrong Founder /President, Find A Tree Consultants

The Find A Tree^® Program

The Find A Tree ® program helps people live their dreams.

The program begins by helping participants identify their gifts, interests and talents.  Once a dream is determined, a plan of action is developed that features practical steps of implementation.  Participants are guided through the process of transforming their plan into a reality and, when appropriate, how to turn their interest and talent into a business.  The Find A Tree ® program emphasizes what participants can begin doing today towards realizing their dream rather than waiting.  

Daniel Armstrong, inspired by his experiences in Ghana, West Africa, developed the program in 1999 after writing the motivational booklet How to Live Your Dreams – Find A Tree and Get Started.   Armstrong, who graduated from Columbia University and has a law degree and an MBA from UCLA, worked for two years in Ghana pursuing business and development projects.  While there, he also worked with youth helping them to establish their own businesses.

Two teenage-twin brothers, Jonas and Jonathan Atingbui, dreamed of having a school of their own, but they had no resources or facilities.  Armstrong advised them to “Find a tree and start their school there.”  These young teachers soon had nearly 100 students coming to their school under a tree.  Seeing their success, a businessman in the community gave them a new building to use as their school.

Thus, the Find A Tree ® program was created.