Charlie's Wish
During his college career, he’s held internships with wealth management firms in Knoxville, Nashville, and Newport Beach. Charlie is one of the few students entering his senior year that has secured a job that he’ll start upon graduation. He owes much of this success to receiving a wish when he was sixteen.
According to Charlie, “my wish changed the trajectory of my life.”
Charlie wished for a modification to his pickup truck that has allowed him to drive and gave him independence. Prior to receiving his wish, he had to depend on his mother or father to give him rides. Often, that resulted in the teenager staying home and missing out. “My dad even had to drive me to get a haircut!” said Charlie.
With his wish, Charlie got his freedom. In fact, on the day after he received his wish, he drove himself to school and had his first date. That independence also led him to choosing to attend University of Arizona in Tucson. Charlie says that without his truck he would have picked a college close to home because of the reliance on his parents for transportation. Attending college in Arizona opened his eyes to the possibilities in life.
At Arizona, Charlie found friends, his passion, and opportunity. He was one of the founding members of a campus fraternity. Theta Xi is now more than 150 members strong. His truck also ensured he was included in friend groups and activities. Charlie notes that it would have been more difficult to include him, but with his truck he could be accommodated, or even lead, trips to the Arizona mountains or other activities.
Charlie saw other changes because of his wish. He gained hope and motivation and saw a big impact on his mental health. When he learned that his wish was going to be granted, he started working out and lost forty pounds. Charlie is an outgoing, engaging young man. His wish gave him the ability to reach his potential and face the future with hope, strength, joy… and independence!