The YMCA
The YMCA provides a community for people to unify through fitness and sports. From my eighth grade year in 2014 to my senior year in 2019, I was an official employee of the YMCA. My occupation was more than a source of income - each day on the job presented a new challenge, lesson, or opportunity that has led me to becoming a stronger leader.
how am I involved?
Referee
As an officiator of basketball, soccer, flag football, and baseball games, I was involved in making sure that each kid had an equal opportunity to excel. I mediated between quarreling coaches and players, promoting the idea of sportsmanship and courtesy on the field/court. Before each game started, I was responsible for delivering a message regarding the rules and expectations of each team.
Head camp counselor
Each summer, I had the opportunity to lead groups of up to 30 kids in a YMCA-sponsored basketball clinic. I was able to build relationships with many of the children and teach them not only about basketball, but how to become a better teammate and individual. By designing fun games and drills that simultaneously reinforced basketball skills, I was able to create unforgettable experiences for each child.
What am i most proud of?
While working with children, I’ve recognized that each child provides something different to a group. Thus, as I’ve instructed in programs, I’ve utilized particular strengths of different children to help improve the weaknesses of others. I paired those who could dribble like Kyrie Irving with those who had never picked up a basketball; and campers with Steph Curry-like shooting were partnered with kids who had never hit the rim before. I provided each child with the opportunity of becoming a leader, and the group became more cohesive and devoted towards becoming a connected team.