Wish alum Dylan continues to pay it forward
Working at Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area this past year has been an incredible experience, more than I could ever ask for.
At one point in time, I was extremely weak and didn’t know what my future would hold. Two years of treatment and the fear of the unknown was a grueling process. On the day of my diagnosis with leukemia, my oncologist told me I was eligible for a wish. In that moment, my fears went away, my spirits were lifted, and my heart was opened.
Throughout my fight, I encouraged myself to stay positive and hold onto hope. I knew that whatever the outcome was, I had to make it to Disney World. I just had to.
When I concluded treatment and my immune system fully recovered, I was finally able to visit “the most magical place on earth.” The trip was beyond amazing. My family and I were blown away by the generosity of Make-A-Wish and all of the planning that went into my wish. It was an experience that couldn’t have been more perfect.
After my trip, I knew that I wanted to give back to Make-A-Wish. It felt right in my heart and I knew that volunteering for an organization that changed my life could greatly benefit my community.
I first embarked on my new journey at Make-A-Wish as a Wish It Forward council member. Over the past year, I have had the privilege to invite families to join our new alumni program, built to create community and opportunities like the one I had. I was also able to fundraise for events like the Greater Bay Wish Quest scavenger hunt.
During that time, I communicated with many wonderful families. I heard their stories and told them about mine. The relatability and comfort I experienced was a beautiful feeling I will never forget. I feel so honored to have been able to advocate for a cause I strongly believe in.
Not only this, I was able to share my story at an event. Last November, I had the privilege of speaking at Quarantine Kitchen. The feeling of sharing my story to a crowd of donors and to the James Boyce Trust, who adopted my wish, was surreal. I am extremely grateful to everyone who has supported Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area and continues to do so. Without our generous community, my wish and many others would not be possible.
As this summer approached, I wanted to gain experience in the marketing field and prepare myself for a future career in social media management. I heard that the Greater Bay Area chapter was looking for a marketing intern and I couldn’t think of a better opportunity.
I was beyond excited to have been accepted for this position and to have spent a fabulous summer with the marketing team. I practiced skills and learned about new assets that will benefit both my education and future. My experienced colleagues helped me to become more proficient in my writing and planning skills, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Not only was I able to strategize and create content for our social media platforms, I also had the opportunity to write a couple of wish stories and conduct an interview. It was an odd feeling to come full circle. I remember when I was interviewed and my wish story was shared. Nonetheless, it was beautiful and emotional for me.
This summer and my time at Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area flew by. I appreciated every moment, and will always remember this experience. It was the perfect first internship and I am proud of the work I accomplished over the summer. I look forward to future opportunities in assisting and supporting this organization in every way that I can.
Dylan’s wish to go to Disney World for an Imagineer experience was granted in 2019. Read his wish story. Dylan is currently attending Saint Mary’s College (in person!), working toward his degree in Communications and Digital Media Studies, and couldn’t be happier! He serves as a First Year Student Advisor on campus and currently runs the social media page for a real estate team down in West Hollywood. Dylan says he misses his time at Make-A-Wish but believes he is where he is today because of the power of giving back.