That's right, this girl.
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of a Unified bowling team with the Central Texas district Special Olympics. This has honestly been one of the most positive and straight up fun things I've ever been involved with.
See, mom and I had been interested in getting involved with the Special Olympics when we lived in California, but we weren't able to. We were excited about the prospect of being able to be involved here. Sometime in late summer I began the application process and I first practiced with my team in September.
I was placed on a Unified Team with 2 Special Olympics athletes and another Unified Partner. I think Unified Teams are pretty awesome. We all practice and compete as equals, scores weighted equally. The 4 of us are truly unified as a team, and I think that's pretty legit. Before practices started I thought I would have to maintain some level of leadership or authority within my team but that wasn't the case at all. When we practiced, we were just teenagers bowling together. I think the goal is unity for the special needs and neurotypical population, and I think this program is a great catalyst for change.
But my very favorite part is the environment created by the parents, athletes, and partners. I have never felt so supported and safe in my abilities and endeavors. The constant flow of cheers, at practices and at our competition can attest to this. Everyone cheers for everyone at the competitions, regardless of teams. I went basically hoarse during out competition for cheering for my team and the teams next to us. The parents are wonderful. They are noting but positive, encouraging and supportive of athletes and partners and the whole program.
Last Sunday our competition was held at an older bowling alley in downtown Austin. The atmosphere was electrifying. Wall to wall people, teams adorned with medals, balls hitting the lanes, pins flying.
I handed my camera over to my mom and she snapped these photos.
My people and I.
This is a good representation of the various bowling styles represented.
Us chilling after we'd finished our game.
Here we are, adorned with our bronze medals.
We came in 3rd. Out of how many people, I am unsure. But honestly, I don't feel like it matters. Did we come in 3rd out of 10? Out of 5? Out of 3? Did everyone get a medal? Yes. But before you start rioting and yelling at us about how giving everyone a medal teaches laziness and entitlement and how it'll be the downfall of society, let me assure you that not everyone's medals were the same. There was gold, silver, and bronze. And they were given out in an order. I'm not sure who we came in third to, though. But I don't think that is the primary concern.
I feel like the mission behind Special Olympics is larger than what place you came in. It's about giving everyone an opportunity to train, compete, and bond as a team. It's an opportunity to contribute to something larger than yourself. I think that is so much more important than placing and winning awards.
The Special Olympics creed sums it up pretty well:
"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt"
I am so proud of my team, and our collective bravery and success.
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