Last week, I spoke a little about Camp Kesem, one of the many student organizations at MIT and one that dedicates a lot of time and effort into putting together a free summer camp for kids whose parents have cancer.

As I mentioned, the other camp counselors and I have been trying hard to raise enough money for camp this year. We've organized several on-campus events, including bake sales and Stuff My Cups; now, we're involved in something even bigger: Pepsi Refresh.

The Pepsi Refresh Project is, as you might guess, from Pepsi :) Haha, I know - duh. But yeah, it's from Pepsi, and it's basically an initiative to encourage people to make a positive difference in the world. Past grant recipients have used the money to fund research on spinal muscular atrophy, to send care packages to troops overseas, and to buy library books for elementary school children, among other things. It's nothing less than extraordinary.

We CK-ers would like to use the money to send a larger group of kids to camp. There are a thousand project entries, and right now, we're in 23rd place!! If we become one of the top two vote-getters in the $250,000 category, then every branch of Camp Kesem gets $10,000 - including Camp Kesem MIT :) Right now, $55,000 will send 60 kids to camp; $10,000 more will enable us to reach out to even more children ‚ô•

Voting runs through May 31 - and you can vote twice every single day: once through a Pepsi account and once if you add the "Pepsi Refresh" app on Facebook.

Here's the MIT Camp Kesem Pepsi Refresh page, and here's a form you can fill out if you're willing to create a Pepsi Refresh account and help out but will probably forget to vote every day (haha, like me...). If you fill out the form, then we can actually vote FOR you, which, according to Pepsi, is entirely legitimate - yayy.

So anyway - that's my pitch for Camp Kesem. But I also want to encourage you all to glance about your community and see what you can do to make it better. I think one of the most important things I've learned in my time here at MIT is that it's entirely okay to not know everything or to just have an idea without a clue regarding its implementation. By working with others, seeking outside help, and simply being enthusiastic about the cause you support, you can learn and achieve so, so much.

And you'll love it all the way through.

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

First!!!

Posted by: Naim '14 on May 6, 2010

I think your second link to the form where people can enter their information is linking back to the Pepsi Refresh site. If you want CK MIT to vote for you enter your information here: www.tinyurl.com/kesem4pepsi.

Thanks!

Posted by: Vidya on May 6, 2010

Hope i did it right... well great work!!


Ham, Do not miss out on posting the pics from the camp

Posted by: ~A on May 6, 2010

Many institutions limit access to their online information. Making this information available will be an asset to all.

Posted by: Coursework Writing on May 7, 2010

@ A - thank you so much!

Posted by: Hamsika '13 on May 7, 2010

Anytime Ham,

**Friends, Romans, Countrymen...send in your votes, its for a noble cause".

Now i cannot tell you how effective would that be and unless i write a blog for the same i guess that is the best i could shout like.
Wishing and praying more people would realise this and turn in their votes.. Good lucks!!

Posted by: ~A on May 7, 2010

hey! so i was wondering if it's a good idea or not to take bio and chem during my first semester as a freshman? I kinda want to take 5.111,8.01,18.02,7.012 my first term because i wanna get a good sense on whether I want to major in chem, bio, or math. Also, i would like to take orgo second semester. any advice? thanks ))))

Posted by: '14 =) on May 8, 2010

what is the average grade recieved on a p-set? Do they typically help your grade or hurt it? Also, if you score at the class average, does that mean that's a B?

Posted by: AED on May 8, 2010

hey ppl! I have a question, how often do you guys use your text books? like is it just for reference or do u have to answer questions in it for hw? also, is it def worth it to buy textbook?????

Posted by: lisa '14 on May 8, 2010

@ '14 - I know someone who took exactly those classes, and she was perfectly fine The only thing you might want to consider is that you'll have a very science/math-heavy semester, with no humanities class as an outlet. As for orgo second semester, that's what I'm doing now! It works out great.

@ AED - haha, depends on how hard you work on it since people work together on psets, pset grades tend to be relatively high; they definitely help your grade.

@ lisa - it depends on the class; for orgo, i use my textbook a lot. for bio, i don't use it at all. some classes (like orgo) have questions from the book, but for other classes (like physics and bio), the book is just a reference. it's usually really easy to borrow textbooks from upperclassmen - so i suggest you try and do that

Posted by: Hamsika '13 on May 8, 2010

HELP ME.
I accepted MIT and declined all my other schools and I am completely regretting my decision.
I'm terrified of being there in the fall-- I didn't even have fun at CPW.
My friends are excited about college and I haven't even set up my Kerberos ID yet.
All I've been hearing is how hard MIT is, how all the stereotypes are true, how I'll hate my life there, and how I should have chosen ____ school.

So why should I be excited about MIT then?

-desperate '14.

On a more relevant note, good luck with your fundraising efforts!

Posted by: Another '14 on May 8, 2010

...I just realized I sounded completely ungrateful and rather rude in that last post. That's not how I meant it to be. I REALLY WANT to love MIT-- I just need a reason to.

Posted by: Another '14 on May 8, 2010

@ Another '14 - email me (hamsika@mit.edu)? i'll try and help

Posted by: Hamsika '13 on May 8, 2010

@ Another '13 --

The fact that MIT accepted you, it is given that you and the Institute are a match. You have what it takes to survive the best technological university in the whole f*cking world.

Although there is a point where students reflect on how their life could have been better should they have rejected MIT's offer, for sure no one has ever said, "I should have chosen Hahvahd and not thia f*cking place." Of course MIT is insanely hard, but if everything was easy then what's the point? After all this is MIT, f*cking MIT!

Posted by: Someone at MIT on May 9, 2010

wait what's a Kerberos ID?? do i need to get one... and when do i need to get it? and how? thanksss haha i don't really know what i'm doing

Posted by: jenny w '14 on May 9, 2010

@ jenny - a kerberos ID is basically your MIT username/e-mail address; you should have gotten a big package in the mail with all the information concerning how to get an e-mail address/kerberos ID Also, this link may be vaguely helpful: http://web.mit.edu/subjectevaluation/no-kerb.html

Posted by: Hamsika '13 on May 9, 2010

but i didn't get a big package in the mail... is that bad??

Posted by: jenny w '14 on May 9, 2010

it might take a few more days - hopefully, you'll get it this week!

Posted by: Hamsika '13 on May 9, 2010

seems like a decent cause, but there are better ones out there

Posted by: 0 on May 10, 2010

I was wondering if there is any chance of getting into MIT with a 3 on an ap test...so u know anyone that has gotten in with a 3 or lower?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 10, 2010

*so do you*

Posted by: 0 on May 10, 2010

I know someone who got lower than a 3 on a Spanish AP, and I also know someone with a low Math SAT II score. Don't worry - scores matter, but they're not the only thing that counts.

Posted by: Hamsika '13 on May 10, 2010

@Hamsika, what are the chances for someone rejected who takes the year off to work in the field, and reapplies?
And would admissions ever explain an applciations weak points to the applicant? Say after an email over the summer?

Posted by: Sacha on May 10, 2010

what up fundraising partner what up fundraising partner <3 ck <3

Posted by: Pi on May 11, 2010

As you all get close to finals... an we do too----we need some posts to keep up the cheer-Survival time!

Posted by: myself on May 11, 2010

Hi,

I love what you are donig for the children.I am hoping, if you can suggest me on this regard.

I have twin boys in 9th grade. I am curious to know that apart from academics, What other credentials MIT look for the admission.
please let me know.
Jayashree

Posted by: jayashree on May 12, 2010

Add a comment

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.