Access to an Opportunity in Athletics by Emma

Access to an Opportunity in Athletics by Emma - February 2020 Scholarship Essay

If I were to start a nonprofit organization, it would benefit those in my community who struggle with having the means to supply themselves or their family members with athletic equipment. I am very involved in sports; I play soccer year-round, and participate in track and women’s wrestling. Competing is one of my favorite things to do, and it has helped me grow as a person in many ways. When other parts of my life have been rough, I have known that I had a healthy outlet. Practices and competitions allowed me to express my skills and relieve stress, while I formed friendships that have lasted many years. This is something that I would like all children and teens to have the opportunity to take part in.
I can think of numerous times that my sister, brother and I have come home and started digging through the boxes filled with equipment in our garage, looking for cleats, or sport-specific clothing that someone on one of our teams was in need of. It makes me feel good to know that our peers trust us to help them get what they need, without fear of being made fun of for not being able to afford buying it for themselves.
However, I have wondered what these people in need would have done if they hadn’t reached out. I imagined not being able to play my sports because I couldn’t afford the array of cleats, skin guards, knee pads, etc. that are necessary for participation. The thought made me emotional, because my experiences in sports have been some of the most positive experiences so far in my life. I have made friends, had great mentors, and learned more about myself through athletics. That is why, if I were to start a nonprofit organization, it would be to supply sporting equipment to those who need it. Through my organization, someone would just have to let us know what they were in need of, and it would be supplied to them. This way, everyone would have the same opportunity to know the joys of involvement in athletics, just like I have had.