Hi everyone! So this weekend I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at the special Olympics State Games. It was a great experience and one I will never forget. I learned so many things, that have now effected my overall project. This is how the weekend went,and what I learned, and how my project will change.
Opening Ceremonies:
Unfortunetly we were un able to attend the introduction of the opening cermonies,because we ( me, my coach and several other students of hers) were runnig a little behind schedule:) Customarily, the introduction, is a lighgting of a torch, the national Anthem is sang, and the repetition of " Let me win, But if i cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt" ( Special Olympics motto) is said. However we did make it in time for the dance. The dance is for all the athletes to meet, greet, talk, celebrate, and just have a good time before the competition the next day. Being able to participate in the dance and meeting an immense amount of people was a truely awarding experience. The athletes were so free spirited and open, I wished that I could display no fear just like they do. They didnt care what others think sbout them, or if there dance moves were acceptable, in comparison to some people who wouldnt even step out to dance in fear of looking bad. For me I felt like I could go out and make a complete fool of myself and not be judged by a single person, which I did. By participating in just this one event, I felt by just dancing with them that I was putting smiles on there faces, and already starting to make a difference
The competition:
The competition its self, was alittle more intense then the dance. The athletes came through the doors prepared and ready to compete. However thats not the kind of atmospere that was going around, it wasnt competitve, or cut-throte like a usual competition, they were all supportive of eachother, smiling, and ready to clap for one another. This is what I believe made my job so difficult. Judging. My job was to judge, and becasue in my mind I thought all of them did so well, it was very hard to place a 1,2,3 on the judging sheets. I wish I could just give all of them first. BUt when the awarding came along, to them, it was like they all got first. They were overjoyed just to receive a metal, and It mad eme wish I could have the same attitude when I compete.
My project:
Through this experience I have decided that I want to expand upon my project. I want to further explore into the actuall intellectual disabilities that effect the athletes, so I can begin to discover how they think, what makes them the way they are, and find reason for what I observed while on this trip. I also want to explore the other resources available to them besides Speecial Oympics, however I will continue to work with Special Olympics, and hopefully stick with it into college. My goals are still in progress but my project has slightly changed. Through this experience I feel extremely motivated to really begin forming and beginning my capstone project:)
