Chapter 1:
I want…


The party had just ended, Jessica Mari Ann's sweet 16. After 4 hours of music blasting in her ears and nonstop dancing with her best friends, Eliza was finally relaxed; lying in a soft, green pasture, feeling happy and completely safe. It was sunny outside, around 80 degrees with a chilled breeze. She was alone and right now that was just what she needed. Being alone was what made her feel free, peaceful, at-ease.


There was a path up ahead and Eliza got up to explore it, noticing the animals dashing past the trees. She wasn't afraid of them and they weren't afraid of her. It was a different world here - calm, quiet, easy. The path led to a clear, shallow pool of water. Eliza, now on her knees, looked in. Her reflection was staring back at her; soft brown eyes, long black hair pulled back into a half-up, half-down hairstyle with an over-sized pink flower pin holding it in place to match her frilly pink party dress. Her skin was smooth and caramel colored, cotton candy flavored lip-gloss coating her lips. She asked herself, "What do I want?”

The answer came to her moments later. She picked up a pebble, dropped it in the water and said, "I want..." noticing the ripples going out from where the pebble went it. When the ripples stopped and the water was still, Eliza took a deep breath and repeated again, "I want..." and then stopped. She thought about it then and asked herself why.
“Why do people always want, want, want? Don't they realize what they already have? Isn't it good enough for them? Isn't it good enough for me.... to know that I have all that I need? Food, shelter, a family that loves me, a good education, and amazing friends. What more could I possibly want?”

Eliza made a decision. She wouldn't worry any more about what she wanted. She would focus only on the things that matter the most and the things that she needs. "I should start now.” And with that, Eliza got up and walked back through the pasture to the city, to her family business, Girls Central. She was going to get a job there. Her parents have been letting her off, saying she should focus more on school than getting a job, and since her family has a lot of money she didn't really need to get a job. But Eliza was determined to work there. She could buy her own stuff, with her own cash. Her parents could save much more money that they could use to spend on things for themselves or other important things for the house, car, or Girls Central.


Chapter 2:
The speech


In Eliza's speech class she was told, along with her many other class mates, to give a speech on an organization that they are involved with. She already had one in mind and immediately went onstage to share it with the audience.

"Hello, my name is Eliza Michelle Bey and the organization that I am currently involved with is Girls Central. Girls Central first opened its doors in 1984, named The Girls Club of America, and owned by my great-great grandmother, Cecelia Bey. It's mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold still continues, passed down from generation to generation... to me. And I remember once watching a group of girls in the science program building a model of a flood plain and heard 14-year-old girls discussing the impact of flooding on low lying areas, analyzing its effect on people and the environment. I heard a group of 7-year olds talking about self-esteem and what it means to feel proud of something you've accomplished. I met a 10-year old and saw in her face the dawn of recognition that Girls Central is not just a center in her town, but a national organization that affects the world in a big way that she now knows she is part of. These moments, and what they add up to, matter to all of us and to our future together. And it's my turn now. Its time for me to start understanding this business, so I can start building a better life for myself and helping other girls build a better life for themselves, and also so that I will be ready to take charge of Girls Central when it is my time."

Eliza had proven to herself that this was that only thing in life that she really wanted, and the greatest thing that she would ever need.