Project Two: Research Proposal

My mom says I have a soft heart for everyone and everything. I think this where my heart of service comes from. Ever since I was little I knew I wanted to help people, so my dream profession was to be doctor. I realized halfway through my senior year of high school after being accepted at FSU as a pre-med student, the medical profession was not for me. I was still fascinated by science and potentially finding cures for diseases because of the impact it has on people’s lives. This mind set help me discover Dance Marathon and more specifically the local beneficiaries it benefits such as to FSU’s College of Medicine Pediatric Outreach Programs, Shands Children’s Hospital, and the Children’s Miracle Network. I’ve been aware of Dance Marathon for a few years, but I was unaware of the purpose. By being a part of this community I’m able to continue to be involved in the medical profession without having to take so many biology classes and spend 8+ years in medical school. I am also able to have a better understanding of the business and economics involved with nonprofit and service organizations. In January I went to Shands Children’s Hospital and met Lindsay Ritenbaugh the Dance Marathon Development Associate for Shands, so I could potentially interview her. Each team is paired with a miracle child who is someone who has benefited or is currently benefiting from the local beneficiaries. The miracle child that was paired with my team has a sister in a sorority on my team, so if they are willing and able, their input would provide helpful insight.

I’m going to focus on the Children’s Miracle Network as my specific local community, so

with research and interviews I would like to determine what important texts exist in our local Children’s Miracle Network, what genres do they belong to, and how are they functioning within our local Children’s Miracle Network?