The idea of starting The Imagine Beyond Foundation was conceived in my room one fine November evening. The thought of creating a non-profit organization first seemed crazy to my three other peers. However, when my brother noticed I didn’t have the slightest smile on my face, or hint of sarcasm, he took out his laptop. The search for a worthy beneficiary led to our first visit to the Autism Treatment Center (ATC) of Dallas. We were welcomed by a pleasantly decorated sitting room with origami irises and paper mache dolls. When we asked about the décor, the director, Dr. Garver, replied, “Oh that was our art project last Friday. The kids loved it!“ Dr. Garver introduced us to several children with autism who told me their names, ages, and favorite colors. But what struck me the most …show more content…
It was so gratifying to not only participate myself, but to incite the same passion for public service that I had in younger high school students. But I didn’t want to just be the one who showed up with an envelope of money every now and then. Together with my friends, I scheduled regular visits to the ATC thereafter, hosted fundraising events, and finally got our non-profit the IRS tax-exemption 501(c)(3) status. Undoubtedly, however, the most unforgettable moment happened at Ignite: a large-scale dance event we hosted as a fundraiser. The opening performance was a choreographed dance by some of the ATC children themselves, as agreed to by Dr. Garver. As I high-fived the kids walking off the stage, they reflected my beaming face. Their happiness was what made me happy, even if some of them couldn’t express it in coherent sentences. As a doctor in the future, I long to experience this feeling as I fulfil my duties. If anything in my past uniquely fortified my decision of choosing this path, it would definitely be the conception and growth of The Imagine Beyond