My favorite Terp Thon memory is the moment I sat after my first Terp Thon freshman year- never before had I felt so accomplished and inspired to do good. Then I was sold to Terp Thon for life.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:There are a million reasons why I do Terp Thon. I do it to inspire others to do good. I do it because I was healthy growing up, and every kid deserves that opportunity. I do it for the family within Terp Thon. I do it for our miracle families. Terp Thon is awesome, fun, inspiring, tear-jerking, empowering, exciting, emotional and breathtaking. I can't really even put it into words. Terp Thon is too special for words. It's a 12-hour moment you must experience.
I initially got involved with Terp Thon because a lot of my friends were signing up and raving about the event. After hearing about all of the fun that goes on at the March event and learning about the organization, I wanted to get involved immediately. Helping people has always been a very important part of my life, and Terp Thon was the perfect opportunity for me to give back to the local community. Between listening to the kid's stories, to hanging out with friends, to participating in the games, to watching the many performances it was very easy at times to forget that I was even standing. After seeing the performances from our Miracle Children I realized how much our standing was able to make these kids feel like celebrities. Being able to hear the stories of people who were helped by the hospital, while standing and participating in the liveliness of the event, made the 12 hours very easyand enjoyable.
I participate in Terp Thon because it is one of the most rewarding experiences that I could get on campus. There are not many things in life that give you as much personal satisfaction as helping kids who are in need, and then seeing how happy and appreciative they are is something that's hard to achieve anywhere else. What helped me get through the 12 hours was all of the friends I was participating with and the morale team who did a great job of keeping everyone entertained and engaged for the entire 12 hours. Also, listening to the kids' stories throughout the day gives you more strength and reason to stand the duration of the event. My personal goal for this year's Terp Thon is to improve off of last year's success and make Terp Thon a campus-wide event that everyone knows about.
The Color For The Kids Run that we planned in the fall was my first event as part of the organization. It was great to hear how excited everyone was to take part in it!
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I originally got involved in Terp Thon so that I could be a part of something on campus. While we raise money to save the lives of children, Terp Thon has undoubtedly changed my life and college experience. I continue to be a part of this organization because I love to be surrounded by people who are just as passionate about this cause as I am. It's great to know that all of our hard work is making a difference for these amazing children and their families.
Carsten's Harlem Shake!!!
Why do you do Terp Thon?:Working with and for these kids makes me grow as an individual and value everything I have been given. When I help them, they help me and it is the most amazing experience I have ever had.
My favorite Terp Thon memory is from Terp Thon 2011 after teaching the Morale Dance every hour for twelve hours, finally watching it all come together as the entire room danced in unison.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:The sense of community, pride and accomplishment we share, as an organization, is why I do Terp Thon. I do Terp Thon because of the feeling I get at meeting each week, seeing students from all over campus working together to plan events, because of the triumph we feel after a successful one, and because of how important our efforts are to so many inspiring people. Being involved in Terp Thon has enhanced my entire college experience, allowing me to expand my horizons and be a part of something much greater than myself. Terp Thon has become a part of who I am and I will be forever grateful to this incredible organization.
My favorite Terp Thon moment was seeing Amanda perform at my first Terp Thon in 2011.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I do Terp Thon because a Children's Miracle Network Hospital saved my cousins life and all children should have the chance to be children and not spend the best years of their lives in the hospital. From seeing my cousin spend her first year in the hospital, I saw some of the little things that she missed out on that I took for granted as a child and no one should have to miss out on experiences just because of a sickness or injury. By doing Terp Thon, I feel that I am in turn helping the children and families involved with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, to give them hope that these children and families can live full and happy lives.
That moment before the signs are flipped up for final reveal; the atmosphere/energy is breathtaking.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I do Terp Thon because I think it's important for college students to come together and support such an amazing and important cause. I also believe every child deserves a childhood and the doctors and staff at Children's National Medical Center make sure those children feel like children, not patients.
Dancing with the kids during power hour.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I do Terp Thon because every time I see pictures of these kids or anything that has "Children's National Medical Center"/ "Children's Miracle Network Hospitals" or someone on campus with Terp Thon related shirts, this feeling of enthusiasm and joy surge through my entire body and I think of all the things we have done so far for the lives of these children and Medical Center and how much more of an impact we can make. The happiness we have created, the possibilities that were once unreachable now met, we helped make these great strides and the sense of peace and excited that I feel because of the things we do can never be duplicated. I do Terp Thon because I want to help give these kids a chance to the normal lives that they were deserve to live.
My favorite memory from Terp Thon 2013 was the final Morale Dance and the big reveal, because it culminated of all of the hard work and love that so many people put into such a great cause.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I do Terp Thon to help all of the innocent children who can't have a normal childhood, and who have been faced with such adversity so early in their lives. Many of their lives are put in jeopardy before they have even really lived and seen all of the great things this world has to offer, and I think that these children deserve more than that.I also do Terp Thon to be a part of something greater than myself. Nothing is more rewarding than knowing that you have given your time and energy for others in need, and that so many of the people around you feel and think exactly the same way. Its liberating to see how much good there is in the people that do Terp Thon.
When I found out that I had memorized old information from the website for my Exec interview.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I was extremely blessed throughout my entire childhood and still am to this day. I have a very supportive family and was able to have all the opportunities that I could have wished for growing up. Doing Terp Thon is one way for me to help other children have the same opportunities that I had growing up. Every child deserves a memorable childhood full of opportunity, happiness, and health. I know that all I do for Terp Thon will help other children in ways that I myself can't even imagine. This is what drives me to do as much as I possibly can for this organization.
Being on stage for the "Do you believe in miracles?" part of the Morale Dance!
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I do Terp Thon to make sure that every child has the chance to laugh so hard until they pee, blow out every birthday candle at once, score the winning goal at a soccer game, make their first best friend, learn how to twirl spaghetti on a spoon and light up the world of everyone they're around. The miracles we make turn these into realities for every kid, and the huge smiles that we see in March are the reason why we keep on doing what we do. I do Terp Thon because everyone of these kids deserves to be a rock star.
My favorite Terp Thon memory is Power Hour from 2012. Being on stage to see the kids crowd surf, everybody dancing, and the final morale dance of the night is something I will never forget.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I do Terp Thon to help make miracles happen everyday. Terp Thon is the one organization I have been a part of since the beginning of my freshman year and I get more excited and passionate about the cause each year. Seeing the smiles on every kid, parent, student, and alumni every March makes all the hard work we do during the year worth it. We are changing the lives of families and kids who need it and I cannot picture my college experience without Terp Thon. The people I have met through this organization and the things I have learned have helped shape my past 4 years at school and I would not change a thing. FTK
Dancing on stage with one of my miracle children, Luca, at last year's Terp Thon is my favorite memory because it showed me how much something so little as playing her favorite song could truly make her day.
Why do you do Terp Thon?:This organization has made a permanent impact in my life for the past three years l have been involved. I do Terp Thon because I love knowing the difference we make in children's lives at Children's National Medical Center every day by raising money to make their stay even a little bit better. Seeing the smiles of the miracle children's faces when they spend the day dancing with students and showing them how passionate we are about this cause is what it's all about.
I loved standing on the stage at Terp Thon 2013 during power hour, looking out over everyone having the time of their lives, with all the excitement in the air, right before the big reveal!
Why do you do Terp Thon?:I had such a wonderful childhood, filled with such good memories, I feel that every single child should have to opportunity to have the same experiences I did. It is unbelievable what many of these kids have had to go through, and it is remarkably inspiring to hear their stories. Terp Thon has an amazing way of unifying the University of Maryland community in support of such a worthy cause, so much bigger than any one of us. Seeing so many people from different backgrounds in Cole Field House, all uniting for one cause, these amazing kids, is an unbelievable sight. You can't beat the feeling of being a part of such an inspiring event. Everything is done for the kids, and when you see them feeling like rock stars, everything seems perfect and it is clear why I am thrilled to be involved in the best student organization on campus.
