Autumn Benjamin

111 Perry View Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15412
October 17, 2016
To whom it may concern:
I am a girl who can’t sit still. My mind wanders to the places where the ocean touches the soft white sands, and the ocean breeze scales lush mountains of ancient volcanoes. My hope is that I will continue to set foot in new places. For me, this is happiness.
The first time I traveled to a foreign country I was 14. I didn’t have my family with me, but a group of people who wanted to help those in need. I was on the Island of Jamaica, and here is where I fell in love with the Caribbean - here is where my passion for this one specific geographical place blossomed. From the food, to the music, the climate, the environment and the people - it spoke to me in such a way I not only wanted to be there, I needed to be there.
During the remainder of high school, I traveled to Jamaica as many times as possible. In college I studied in the Community Development and Applied Economics department, specifically studying
Community Entrepreneurship. I extensively trained on how to become a successful community developer. I wanted to gain knowledge on how to sustain our world through social impact, education, economics, and of course, our environment.
I continued to research and learn about the Caribbean, about the history and about solutions to poverty. I wrote reports on the economic devastation and proposed entrepreneurial ideas for women to overcome their hardships. Last spring I had to opportunity to travel to St. Lucia to implement projects and learn more about the people of the island. I worked with the St. Lucian Consumer Affairs Department to do social research on consumerism. I spend every free moment of that trip appreciating the beauty of the volcanic made island, and the people who reside there.
In order to continue finding myself in these islands, I need to connect with those who work here, who live here, who also share my passion for such a beautiful place. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for any advice or job leads you may have.
Sincerely,
Autumn Benjamin - autumnliza@gmail.com