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Earn money for a cause, learn the value of work

My parents always taught us the value of hard work by encouraging us to earn our own money. So, when I came home asking to go on the annual 8th-grade field trip to Washington, D.C., my parents made it clear that I would have to pay for my own way.

Our school offered a candy sale as a fundraising opportunity, so I thought I would give it a try. I didn't see how I was going to be able to earn the hundreds of dollars I would need to pay for the trip. But, I started selling candy. I took my pack of candy everywhere I went--on the bus, to class, between classes, to church, to family gatherings. People knew that whenever they saw me, they would be able to get a snack. And, they felt good about helping me reach my goal.

I was skeptical at first, but with a little work, I was able to earn enough to pay for travel expenses, the hotel, all event fees, and I even had enough for spending money! Selling candy worked so well for me that all three of my younger siblings decided to use the same system to pay for their class trips.