Showing Up in a Big Way

There’s an old saying: “80 percent of life is just showing up.”

I say it’s at least that much and maybe more. For me, simply showing up has led to a lot of very interesting opportunities and meeting lot of new and cool people. I often get asked, “How did you first get involved?” It’s a question that’s not easy to answer mostly because I’ve been “involved” in some way for as long as I can remember. Whether it was volunteering for a local campaign when I was in grade school, working at a soup kitchen in college, or reading to school kids during my lunch break here in DC, it has always been important to me to be a part of the lives of people around me. I started simply by showing up and kind of never stopped. I didn’t always know what I was getting myself into but it’s always led to an enriching and educational experience.

Ateqah Khaki. (Photo from HelloGiggles)

This edition of Women Working to Do Good highlights a young woman that has shown up in a big way. Meet Ateqah Khaki, a native of the great State of Washington that found her passion for social justice during a difficult time in our nation’s history, the days following September 11th. In the new HelloGiggles profile, Ateqah says:

“Get involved with what you care about – whether it is the environment, education, civil liberties, whatever. Connect with other people who share your passion, and DO SOMETHING.”

She’s absolutely right! Change takes time,and takes shape in small increments. But it all begins by taking action to show up. Everyone who changed the world, first took action by showing up to do something. Where will you show up?

Read more about Women Working to Do Good

• Art Cart in the Big Apple
• An “Eco-Renaissance” Woman
• Teachers We Love
• Growing Community in Chicago
• Wonder Woman in the Los Angeles Volunteer World

Ronnie Cho is the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.