Article by Bridget McNierney, class of 2015
A few weeks ago, on a beautiful Friday afternoon, my teammates Liz Magno, Jazmine Fray, Emily O’Hara, Kathryn Elnick and I accompanied our coach Mr. Brown to speak with the local Girl Scout troop at Malverne High School. I was excited to see that the troop was made up of several of my younger brother’s classmates, so I had a personal connection with the girls. My teammates and I spoke to them about sportsmanship, teamwork, and perseverance, and how these things come into play every time we step on the track. We emphasized that win or lose, you always congratulate an opponent on their race. It shows good manners, and is very Christ-like to push away your jealousy or pride and acknowledge the achievement of your competition. Being sportsman-like is also important within our own team. During meets, nobody ever leaves early because we stay to watch and cheer on our fellow teammates. It is important to share in the success of others, because it pushes you to be successful too. “Never give up,” said captain Liz Magno, “in the end, you’re only hurting yourself. By trying to take shortcuts and get out of doing work, you are not living up to your full potential. ”
The troop really took these words to heart because the very next day, one of the members said something was too hard. Her mom, who was also the troop leader, reminded her of what Liz had said the other day. The young girl gave the task another try, succeeded, and was pleased with her results. It was so satisfying to know that we really had an impression on the girls in our community. I told the girls, “Never be afraid to try something new, because it might turn out to be a really great experience.”
I started out as a mid-distance runner, but decided to try hurdling. I didn’t know any of the hurdlers, but decided to try anyway. I ended up having a very successful season because I wasn’t afraid to try. It can never hurt to try, and if you don’t try, you will never know what could have happened. Teamwork is something that is very important to the Kellenberg team. Each individual works together to create success for the entire team. Every member plays a part when a victory is earned. Although they had probably heard it many times before, we reminded the troop “There is no ‘I’ in team,” and this is so true. Especially in track, a meet cannot be won if there is one good runner. The entire team has to work and train together to reach a shared goal.
I loved having the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences with the Brownie Troop. I really hope my teammates and I inspired the girls to work hard, try something new, and never give up.