January

For my service this semester, I am again volunteering with Miracle League. In the winter season (January and February), they do kickball, and in the spring, they do baseball again. I have never done the kickball season before, so this has been a new experience for me. It has been really enjoyable and a highlight of my weekends so far. 

On my team, the Seals, there are a few players who were on my baseball team in the fall. It has been nice seeing these kids again as well as getting to know other kids who I saw on other teams or who I had never met before. One boy who was on my team in the fall remembered me, which I found really impactful. He and I had never been paired up as buddies for one of our games because he always preferred one other girl. As such, we never really interacted much, but we introduced ourselves briefly, during which he told me he really liked the song "Jack and Diane" after finding out my name was Diane. He reminded me of his love for this song when we reconnected on our kickball team and then asked to be my buddy. 

Participating in Miracle League this season has once again reminded me of the impact of building connections with these children for everyone involved. The most obvious, of course, is the emotional and physical effects on the children. They have the opportunity to build relationships with their peers and buddies in a relaxed and fun environment as well as play sports and get some exercise that they may not otherwise have the ability to do. Furthermore, their parents have the benefit of being able to relax and see their children have fun. Although the games are not long, a short reprieve from the daily stressors is vital. And lastly, the buddies, such as myself, can build meaningful relationships with these children, which leaves a lasting positive impact on our lives. 

Volunteering with Miracle League and forming relationships with the players on my teams has reminded me of the importance of resilience and compassion. You never know what someone has going on in their life, so it is important to always interact with them with empathy and compassion. Furthermore, the barriers that these children have overcome and yet still come every Saturday with big smiles on their faces have reminded me that no matter what is going on in my life, I too can show resilience and overcome my personal stressors. These Saturday games are most definitely a highlight of my weekend that I look forward to during the week. 


January hours: 6

Total hours: 6

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