Lessons from Frog Field Day

In elementary school, I was somewhat of a slow learner. I was behind my peers in reading and writing, and it tore down my confidence. When I was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD, I had a better understanding of why I was different, but that did not help the feeling that I was dumb. I lived with this burden until I was in middle school, and I got serious about ballet. When I started seeing progress in my dancing, I slowly started to regain my confidence. Not only did I learn life lessons like self-discipline and determination, but also I had found something I felt good at. That was a great feeling. I did better in school with my rigorous dance schedule and had a higher self-esteem overall.

When I joined the Neeley Leadership Program as a sophomore, I knew I would be challenged to create a project aimed to make an impact in the community as a junior. So, this year, when I found a team that was just as passionate about the positive impact of sports, I knew we could make a difference. We all committed to establishing a system that gives other kids in the DFW area the same opportunities we had growing up.

We noticed a trend in the country and, more importantly, in the DFW area of a decrease in participation of youth sports. The City of Fort Worth Athletic Department, one of our main partners, has seen a decrease of more than 40% in enrollment in the past three years. Based on experience and research, we noticed students were missing out on the benefits that come with team sports, like learning leadership skills, time management, and increased self-esteem. Also, student-athletes are three times more likely to graduate high school, so we knew we wanted to get kids invested in sports early.

We teamed up with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at TCU and found a group of students who were also passionate about athletics and community service. We collaborated and developed a field day that would serve two main purposes. First, it would allow students to get excited about sports by participating in fun activities and meeting student-athletes. Second, it would connect parents with existing affordable leagues in the area like the YMCA and the City of Fort Worth Athletic Department to increase youth sports participation in the area. We were also able to team up with TCU and have our day be incorporated into the semi-annual TCU Day of Service. This not only increased our credibility but also supplied resources and developed hope for the sustainability of our field day.

Unfortunately, with the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 our field day, scheduled for April 4, was canceled. Despite our disappointment, both our team and community partners are confident this event will happen in the near future. I am very excited to see this field day happen and am committed to following through, even though my school project is over.

Through this process, I have learned so much about working with a strong team and tackling adversity. We have learned to be adaptable and to be prepared for any obstacle thrown in our way, including a pandemic. I would like to thank the YMCA, City of Forth Worth Athletic Department, and SAAC for the lasting support and excitement about this field day. Also, thank you to Lizzie, Emilio and Nick. I am so proud of the passion we held for this project, and I am looking forward to working together more in the fall.