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Special Olympics: Making Memories That Will Last Forever
Apr 25, 2013 11:11 AM
By Amber Rodriguez '16 - '16
Today, I dedicated the first half of my day to the community. The ninth grade hosted the Floyd County Special Olympics, an event where the disabled who currently reside in Rome or attend a local school all come together and embrace their differences.
At the Special Olympics, there were many opportunities to take part in different activities such as wheelchair races, soccer, long jump and other fun events that the kids all really enjoyed. There were separate groups of Darlington students who helped out by getting the kids in order, awarding ribbons and cheering on the sidelines at the different stations. There is no doubt the participants really enjoyed the Special Olympics.
Through this once-in-a-lifetime chance of volunteering at such a big event and supporting the acceptance of others, Darlington's ninth-graders were able help make a change and give people memories that will last forever. The best feeling was to give a kid a hug, a high five or a smile. They would get so excited and any shyness would wither away.
The Darlington Motto mentions "Service Beyond Self," which I and many others live by not only in school but outside school as well. During the week, we have the opportunity to take daily service trips to places like the Boys & Girls Club, McHenry Elementary and the Open Door Home. At Darlington, we love to give back to the community, which is why hosting the Special Olympics is such a big deal to us. There is nothing better than seeing the smile on someone's face after you've given back to the community.
Many fail to realize that giving back to community doesn't always have to mean going on international mission trips or donating large sums of money to foundations. Community service can simply be picking up trash off the ground as you walk from class to class, helping someone with their books or taking out your neighbor's trash. At Darlington, we are taught from day one to do the best we can and go out of our way for anyone in any way we can -- even if it's just by giving them a smile.
At the Special Olympics, there were many opportunities to take part in different activities such as wheelchair races, soccer, long jump and other fun events that the kids all really enjoyed. There were separate groups of Darlington students who helped out by getting the kids in order, awarding ribbons and cheering on the sidelines at the different stations. There is no doubt the participants really enjoyed the Special Olympics.
Through this once-in-a-lifetime chance of volunteering at such a big event and supporting the acceptance of others, Darlington's ninth-graders were able help make a change and give people memories that will last forever. The best feeling was to give a kid a hug, a high five or a smile. They would get so excited and any shyness would wither away.
The Darlington Motto mentions "Service Beyond Self," which I and many others live by not only in school but outside school as well. During the week, we have the opportunity to take daily service trips to places like the Boys & Girls Club, McHenry Elementary and the Open Door Home. At Darlington, we love to give back to the community, which is why hosting the Special Olympics is such a big deal to us. There is nothing better than seeing the smile on someone's face after you've given back to the community.
Many fail to realize that giving back to community doesn't always have to mean going on international mission trips or donating large sums of money to foundations. Community service can simply be picking up trash off the ground as you walk from class to class, helping someone with their books or taking out your neighbor's trash. At Darlington, we are taught from day one to do the best we can and go out of our way for anyone in any way we can -- even if it's just by giving them a smile.
