Pascual Cardozo Abad had been eagerly awaiting this day for months. It was the day of the annual TOM event, a gathering of students, staff, volunteers, and need-knowers who were coming together for the common good. The goal was to help people with disabilities and solve a specific problem they faced daily.

As the Awareness Leader, Cardozo had a lot riding on his shoulders. He had spent countless hours planning and preparing for this event, making sure that everything was perfect and that every attendee would have a positive experience. As he approached the high school coliseum, Pascual couldn’t help but feel a sense of nervous excitement wash over him. He had been practicing his opening speech for weeks, reciting it over and over again in his head until every word was ingrained in his memory. As he stepped onto the stage, he felt a rush of adrenaline as he prepared to deliver his message to the eager crowd.

As the Awareness Leader for the annual TOM event, he had a big responsibility on his shoulders. Not only did he need to ensure that all attendees were respectful and aware of what to say and what not to say, but he also had to oversee a team of students who were tasked with making sure that the event ran smoothly. Working alongside Santiago Balladares, Grade 11, Cardozo took a proactive approach to his role as an Awareness Leader. Together, they led by example, demonstrating how to give effective presentations to the Makers of TOMorrow group. 

“The preparation for TOM was pretty extensive, and I think that overall, we worked really well together to extend our message and purpose in this event to everyone,” Balladares said.  

The Day Begins

7:00 am: Cardozo arrives and has a meeting with the different TOM section leaders. They discuss the plan for the day and motivate each other to ensure that the day goes smoothly. He organizes the library and sets to work on his various tasks.

7:30 am: As his Awareness Team arrives, Cardozo gives a motivating speech to lift their spirits. He accompanies them to the registration desk and makes sure everyone is clear on their assigned tasks. Cardozo is in charge of tracking everyone’s social hours, so he keeps a close eye on their progress throughout the day.

8:30 am: Cardozo takes charge of welcoming and guiding TOM 2023 need-knowers throughout the event, giving tours and providing any assistance necessary. He also finishes up with registration and ensures everyone stays ready to tackle the rest of the day.

“I feel that he is always prioritizing the well-being and needs of the team, and sets a great example of leadership. I’m glad that I was part of his team this year,” Maria Isabel, Grade 12, said.

10:00 am: Cardozo leads the team on a tour to visit all the stations and meet TOM’s needed knowers. This way, the Awareness Team blows off steam after a long morning of presentations and gets to know the organization of the event better.

“I think everyone felt a sense of connection with each other and the attendees. He made the concepts easy to understand and interactive in a way,” Mara Montoya, Grade 11, said.

11:00 am: Cardozo, along with his team, led a conversation with TCS 7th graders who laughed and made fun of the need-knowers. They discussed the importance of empathy and respect towards all people. He was able to get through to them and help them see their mistakes, leading to a reflection on their actions. The students refrained from laughing or making fun of the need-knowers during the event and apologized after the meeting.

“His willingness to lend a helping hand and lead by example reinforces his team’s dedication to providing a positive and inclusive experience for all attendees,” Maria Echeverri, Grade 11, said.

Half way there

12:00 pm: Cardozo takes the time to analyze how the team progresses and identifies areas that may require adjustments. He works with the teams to reorganize tasks and responsibilities to ensure everyone works efficiently.

1:00 pm: During the lunch break, Cardozo takes the opportunity to have a meal with his group. He blows off steam while also keeping track of time so he and his team don’t run late.

“Pascual takes the time to connect with us, allowing us to then connect with the rest of the TOM community. He calms us down every time there is some sort of stressful moment, but I can’t even begin to imagine how much stress he has been in these past few weeks,” Candelaria Gómez, Grade 10, said.

2:00 pm: Pascual warmly welcomes Sonia, the director of Mónica Uribe por Amor, and gives her a tour of the entire TOM event. He shows her the different stations and what teams are doing to help the need-knowers.

Pascual had worked closely with Mónica during the pre-TOM activities that involved Juan Felipe Gonzalez, a table tennis athlete who engaged in competitions with children in the school to showcase how his disability doesn’t define him.

3:00 pm: The Awareness Team was located in the library. Since it normally closes at 3:15 pm, the team was asked to leave around this time. Despite the confusion, the team complied and exited the building. Pascual, being a level-headed leader, decided to approach TOM leaders for guidance on how to handle the situation.

After discussing the issue with Lina and Ana Garcia, Pascual was able to reach an agreement that his team could continue using the library as long as he took full responsibility for any incidents that may occur. Pascual recognized the importance of separating people from the main event during the awareness talk, which is why he was willing to take on this responsibility.

“I think that to be able to do a job in TOM, and even more a leadership one, you have to actually have passion and a purpose to have fun,” Cardozo said.

5:00 pm: After a quick break for refreshments, the final tour arrived. Pascual helped his team and motivated them to give a great awareness talk. While dismissing the group, Pascual gave a motivational message for the next day. Many team members, including himself, stayed at the event to help out.

Heading home

7:00 pm: After the event, Pascual held a meeting with the leaders to discuss how the day went and identify areas for improvement. They reviewed the feedback received from participants and discussed strategies to address any challenges that arose during the day. They also brainstormed ideas for making the next day even better and more impactful. All this while receiving the food that would be offered for volunteers that stayed.

8:00 pm: One of the TOM leaders, Pablo Arango, had his birthday during the event. All the leaders got together to plan a surprise party for him at the end of the day. Pascual and some of his team members gathered in the lounge and surprised Pablo, along with other leaders and volunteers. They sang “Happy Birthday,” took photos, and enjoyed some cake.

“I really like TOM because it also involves the students who aren’t in the event. Like when a need-knower visited the class and talked about what his disability was and what wanted to get out of TOM. It was basically a safe space for everyone,” Valeria Pertuz, Grade 11, said.

9:00 pm: Pascual ended his day by assisting the remaining volunteers and leaders in cleaning up TOM’s space to ensure a quick start the next day. Once everything was in order, he headed home.

10:00 pm: Once home, Cardozo messaged his team thanking them for their hard work throughout the day and reminding them of what tomorrow held for them and the event. He emphasized the importance of staying focused and positive, and encouraged his team to bring their A-game once again the next day.

“Pascual is a great leader, he has his entire team working together and he has shown great leadership in his group. I am amazed at how he can communicate with the people around him even if this is his first time not only being a leader but also being in TOM,” Senior, Esteban Botero said.