As the fall semester of my junior year is coming to a close, I am beginning to narrow down the list of colleges I would like to apply to. With this, comes other decisions like what I want to study, how many people I wish to be surrounded by, which part of the country or world I would like to live, and what I'm eventually going to pursue as a career. I don't have a definite answer to any of those questions, though there is one thing I know; I need to be a part of a team.
Vail Valley Soccer Club and Vail Mountaineer Hockey Club have exposed me to people from all over the valley because they are combinations of players from every school in the county. I am grateful for this exposure because it has given me the chance to meet some of my best friends. Playing soccer at the high school level allowed me to get closer to the girls in other classes. Then, joining the Battle Mountain High School Hockey team allowed me to spend more time with boys. I have met amazing people through each of these teams and all of my closest friends play soccer or hockey with me.
This year, I joined Eagle Valley High School’s cross country team. The runners at our school were people I hadn't spent much time with. Though after the season ended last week, I had a whole new group of friends that I never would've made without the sport.
Each group that travels with Children's Global Alliance is a team too. The teams I've been a part of with CGA have been diverse groups of kids who all have different things to teach me. Through this program I have met some of the best student leaders in the valley. The kids I've traveled with have inspired me to adopt some of their characteristics such as strength and compassion, in order to be a better version of myself.
The most important team in my life is my family. I have a family which is fully supportive of me in every aspect of my life. I am lucky enough to have my brother on my team at home and at hockey. Over the past year we have gotten much closer and I am thankful to have him around to protect and encourage me. My mom and dad are very loving and the hardest workers I know. I understand how fortunate I am to have such a great examples set by my family members.
There is something special shared between teammates. When you get a group of people together who depend on one another to reach a desired goal, a bond is created that doesn't exist between most friends. Having teammates has allowed me to create the strongest bonds.
This summer I will be given the opportunity to be a part of a new team with Children's Global Alliance; Team Nepal. My teammates and I will be traveling to Bhaktapur and teaching kids from preschool through grade 6. I am excited about this team because I can tell it is full of of students who are eager and passionate about making a difference. So far, this team has been the most timely and dedicated one I have been on with CGA. Along with teaching, we will participate in home visits and help aid in efforts to recover from the 2015 earthquake. The opportunity to complete manual labor was a major factor in my choice to apply to Nepal. I love to help the kids mentally in the classroom, but I am also appreciative of the chance to contribute to the betterment of their physical condition. In order to participate in this trip I must raise $2,600. I plan to save all the money I make working at The Beaver Creek Market and babysit more frequently. I am grateful for another chance to see a new part of the world and gain more understanding about the tiny part I live in. Additionally, I am ready to give love to every individual I have the opportunity to work with. I am excited to give all I have to the children in Nepal.
