Special Olympics Transformed My Life by Remel

Special Olympics Transformed My Life by Remel - December 2013 Scholarship Essay

My volunteerism with Special Olympics has been an extracurricular activity that has greatly impacted my life. Because my father, a school physical therapist, occasionally rewarded the hard work of his young patients with invitations to attend events with our family, I have known many people with special needs and have been exposed to a variety of disabilities. During my high school years, I occasionally interacted with some of my disabled friends who I knew from elementary school, plus a few students with special needs that were in some of my classes, clubs, or who also participated in school activities. Unfortunately, many of the activities did not involve active participation by the students, so although I had spent time with people with special needs, I seldom was present when they were actively involved in physical activity. My life changed when I began volunteering with Special Olympics. Originally, I signed up because all club members are required to complete community service hours if they are to receive their graduation stoles. This is no longer why I volunteer; I have exceeded my required volunteer hours and now volunteer because I want to, not because I have to. I have fun, have made new friends, and feel as if I am making a difference. My involvement brings joy to my heart.

I have always realized the importance of participating in sports and have been an active competitor since I was seven. My first role with the Special Olympics was to provide praise and encouragement. Because of my experience and skills as a track and field athlete, I began working with the track and field Special Olympians. I have been running track since I was seven at the school level and with a club so I was in my comfort zone working with the track athletes. Interacting with the athletes and sharing their joys became a catalyst to me becoming a mentor with athletes on my teams who are diagnosed with a disability. I now realize that the responses of the Special Olympians were no different from any other athlete when approval and admiration are expressed. They were full of smiles.

My most recent experiences included working with and supporting the Special Olympians’s softball and bocce ball efforts. Since both sports were new to me, I had to step into the athletes shoes and learn the sports with them. I had experience playing soccer, basketball, football, flag football, and running track, but not softball or bocce ball. The athletes had more training and practice playing the sports than I. Initially, I felt hindered by my lack of knowledge, skills and experience and feared not being successful; however, once I stop thinking of myself and focused on the athletes, I was encouraged by their growing confidence and felt the athletes’ empowerment and pride when they told people that they taught me how to play or when they scored more than I.

The impact of Special Olympics on the athletes, and on me, has been priceless. I not only became more tolerant, but more appreciative, perceptive, and accepting. I realize how participation in Special Olympics provides for a welcoming and accepting place to train and grow. Because of my unfamiliarity with softball and bocce ball and the fact that I had to learn from the athletes, I was able to demonstrate to the athletes that mistakes are allowed and that there usually are multiple opportunities to try again. Since interacting with the athletes, empathy has replaced sympathy. I realize that what I experience as an athlete is no different from what the Special Olympic athlete experiences; they also feel anxiety before they compete, disappointment when they don’t win, and pride of successes. They exhibit activeness, sport skills, self-esteem, self-confidence, and personal satisfaction. My interaction has dispelled stereotypes; in place of powerlessness, I see empowerment and courage. I focus not on the disability or differences, but on our common humanity.

Special Olympics provides opportunities for social interaction, sportsmanship and competency. I am now aware of the importance of social inclusion and interact more with the Special Olympic students, both in and out of school. The program’s activities have great potential to change and shape attitudes, to impact the day-to-day acceptance of all people, and to foster social networks within the community.

Because of the experience, I was able to see the athletes individually. I watched the athletes come to their competition, talked with and encouraged them about their events and their feelings, witnessed them become more confident in talking to people, laughed with them, celebrated with them, and felt as invested in the athletes and their Special Olympics as I do in my Junior Olympics.

Volunteering with the Special Olympics allows me to serve as an agent of change—fostering respect, dignity, tolerance, compassion, and acceptance. It teaches me that the Special Olympics has no boundaries; it has the ability to unite the community, connecting the spirit of generosity, inclusion, and volunteerism, with advocacy. As a witness to the motto, “Special Olympics Transforms Lives through the Power of Sports,” working with the athletes has been a life-changing experience that transformed my life, developing greater meaning and satisfaction in what I do on a daily basis. It has impacted me as a volunteer, mentor, and future educator who has the power to impact many others.