Challenger Athletics has opened my eyes to the joy that can be found in the simple things in life. Every weekend, whenever I enter the gym or field and begin to prepare for the ensuing activities, the excitement I witness from each of the athletes always warms my heart. The pure happiness, smiles, laughs, fist bumps, and conversations that I get to partake in, fill me with a great sense of gratitude. Whether I’m passing the ball around with Suli and clapping with him whenever he scores a basket, watching Ethan demonstrate his magical powers every time he takes a shot, or giving Roberto the biggest of high fives each time I see him, each moment I spend with Challenger encourages self-reflection regarding my own circumstances. Whenever I leave the activities, I walk away thankful that I can serve as a buddy and impact someone else’s life for the better, but I have also grown deeply appreciative of the athletes’ perspectives and how they consistently demonstrate how I can improve my own life. During my initial stages of volunteering with Challenger, I viewed my presence in a way where I was exclusively offering assistance to the athletes; however, with increased dedication to the program, I have grown to realize how the athletes have changed my perception of how to lead a more positive life. Rather than focusing on life’s negatives, I have grown grateful for the small things. By focusing on how simple and seemingly inconsequential actions can create a meaningful difference, I have started emphasizing the good in my daily routines and viewing obstacles as an opportunity to become stronger.

The athletes epitomize resilience and a dedication to succeed regardless of circumstances. I recall that towards the end of the flag football program after the directors handed out medals and we cheered for each individual involved, the group huddled together for a final cheer commemorating everyone’s participation. “1, 2, 3 Challenger…4, 5, 6 Never Give Up!” This simple cheer embodies the athletes’ commitment to persevering through life’s difficulties. I remain inspired by this outlook and hope to obtain the same level of courage and commitment that the athletes demonstrate every single day.

Nothing is more rewarding than watching the athletes have a great time as they share their infectious laughs and smiles. I always leave the activities feeling more fulfilled, and at peace. I feel so lucky to say that I have created some meaningful friendships through this program with both the athletes and the buddies. Everyone who volunteers and participates in Challenger serves to bring joy to others’ lives. This atmosphere has reminded me that a group effort of dedicated and positive individuals can impact society for the better.

I think that anyone who has attended a Challenger Athletics event can attest to the rewarding nature of the mission, how fun spending time with the athletes is, and the satisfaction felt after the hour and a half of events. That being said, if Challenger took some videos of the sessions in a motivational documentary and sent it to school districts on Long Island, I believe significant numbers of athletes and buddies would love the chance to participate in the program. Spreading Challenger’s mission in schools through this video will allow others to see how fun and rewarding the volunteer sessions are.

I also think it is important to keep the buddies energized and engaged. I know some buddies occasionally just stand next to the athletes while participating in the events, which can be discouraging as they may feel they are not being useful. I think instructing the buddies to cheer on the athletes or play some easy defense, ensures that everyone is active, engaged, included, and excited for future sessions.

Challenger has left such a meaningful and positive impact on my life, and I relish the opportunity to do anything I can to help grow the mission of the program.

It is difficult to put my feelings toward Challenger into words. I have never been a part of something that is so much bigger than myself, until I became involved in Challenger. Being a part of this program is so rewarding and is something that I will cherish my whole life.

Being a part of an organization like Challenger Athletics has completely shaped the young woman I am today. Transitioning into high school from middle school, I witnessed my older brother and cousins attending Challenger every weekend. At a young age I did not really understand the goal and message this organization served, however when I attended my first tennis program, I knew this was something that I wanted to be a part of for a very long time. The goal of Challenger is to be inclusive and build relationships and confidence with people that have learning and physical disabilities. I have made it my mission to pursue this goal for the rest of my life in all aspects. The connections I have made through this program are so special and have taught me so much about myself and the people around me. Participating almost every weekend has taught me how valuable this program is and inspired me to create awareness for the exclusions of people with disabilities. Seeing the smiles I could bring to the athletes of Challenger along with the smiles they give right back to me, gives me a feeling like no other.

Through my participation with Challenger Athletics, I have applied my passion to make a difference in the lives of those in my community while developing key leadership and interpersonal skills. I saw how my volunteerism increased the self-confidence and attitude of the athletes; in return, my compassion for them and their families increased exponentially. My first, and most extensive work, was with Matthew, a non-verbal athlete with autism. During our weekly sessions over three years, I taught Matthew the fundamentals of tennis while discovering the great rewards of giving, helping, and teaching. Moved by the impact I was making on these kids' lives, I continued to dive deeper into the organization. Basketball, tennis, lacrosse, and even surfing became my regular year-round activities. I soon took on a leadership role managing, coordinating, organizing, and planning the tennis season. I learned to work well with parents, to have patience, and to be a successful leader. With this experience, I excitedly created a Challenger Athletic club at my school to raise awareness and recruit additional buddies. This organization shed light on how fortunate I am to participate in day-to-day activities with ease. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to my community and see the growth and development of the athletes.

Creating a network among the buddies can enhance their excitement about volunteering each week. By curating group chats with the buddies, they can talk to one another before each week’s session, creating a sense of friendship among themselves which will provide even more enjoyment to the programs. After each sports season is over, a buddy’s dinner is also a great way to keep the connection strong and entice people to keep on volunteering.