As a college freshman our youngest received an English assignment which called for her to write about one specific defining moment of her life.          Enjoy:)

Life Lessons in a Foreign Country

            Growing up my parents leased a former fish pond and used it as a private water ski lake. We had this lake, or as we called it the pond, for close to ten years. Over the years my dad coached many water-skiers, mainly disabled water-skiers; because of this my parents, a family friend, and I were able to travel with the United States Disabled Water Ski Team to Australia in the spring of 2001. During those two weeks the team taught me to be myself, to find some humor in things I cannot control, make the best of every situation, the “secret of life”, never give up, and to be a true team player.

            Our journey began when we met the team at the Los Angeles International Airport . There were eight people in wheelchairs, three amputees, three legally blind people, as well as family members, coaches, a doctor, and a whole lot of luggage. The group attracted a considerable amount of stares. It’s not every day that you see a parade of people with disabilities in red, white and blue with a ton of luggage trucking across the airport. At first the stares were bothersome; as time went on I began to stop paying attention to the stares. The team members seemed to be unaffected by the stares, as though they looked no different from everyone else.

Before we left our hometown of Los Banos , California we were able to borrow a local TV station’s camera. My friend Spanky and I were planning on making a documentary to try and obtain some publicity for the skiers. We hoped that the publicity would get them enough recognition so that they would no longer have to pay for all of their expenses during competition. When we weren’t helping the team at the lake or the hotel we did interviews with all of the team members. The interviews proved to be very interesting; I had known a lot of these people since I was a young child and I was able to see them in a different light from the interviews. We asked them a variety of questions including, how they became injured, how many world records they held or made, and their age.
            As Spanky and I interviewed the team we noticed a common theme of humor. The team used humor to make light of a heavy situation. One specific interview was with two blind skiers, named Alan and Mark. We asked them what they liked most about being disabled. Alan said, “The great parking spots, those are the best.” Then Mark chimed in with, “Well, he has to find his car first. He doesn’t even know where the road is let alone what color car he’s driving.”  Most of the team had similar humor, which added to my experience. These people were able to take such a tragic, life altering event and make jokes about it. Their humor taught me that not everything in life is serious, and sometimes it’s a helpful reminder to joke about your mortality and shortcomings.

Although their jokes were funny, that’s only a small lesson that I have learned from the team. I am the person I am today because those people taught me about perseverance. If any of them had given up after their accident or even in competition they would not be the world champions that they are. They taught me that life is what you make of it and you can never give up.
            A specific example of one team member’s perseverance was of Matt Oberholtz. He is a paraplegic and competes in two of  three events, (slalom and trick); not competing in the jump event. During this World Championships Matt was working on doing a flip on his trick ski; a trick that had never been done by a paraplegic. Even though Matt kept falling and not finishing this trick he kept on trying. He knew that eventually he would be able to conquer this trick. When it came time to compete Matt was able to do the trick successfully and not only helped lead the team to victory, but set a World Record and made a new trick for sit-skiers.

At that point Matt didn’t realize the lessons he was teaching me by trying to do a trick. He taught me that if you never give up on something you will be successful. Although your success may take awhile, it will eventually come and it will be that much sweeter.

The team’s manager gave me inspiration by telling me the “secret of life.” He said, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” By saying that string of ten words to myself I am instantly flooded with the memories of this trip. I begin to remember all of the lessons that I learned. I remind myself to find some humor in things I cannot control, make the best of every situation, to be humble, never give up, and to be myself.

If it weren’t for this trip I’m ninety-five percent positive that I would not be where I am today. As a result of this trip I chose to commute an hour to high school. The local high school was rated a two, on a scale of one to ten with one being the worst. After long family discussions, my parents and I chose Central Catholic. We chose Central Catholic because we felt that I would have a better opportunity to get into a good college. This was one of the biggest and best decisions my parents and I have ever made.

The start of high school was tough for me because I did not know anyone and most of the kids had been going to school together since kindergarten. There were many times where I felt lost and unwanted. When I was down, my mom would remind me of the “secret of life” and all that I learned from the team members earlier that spring. Those reminders helped me to come out of my shell and get myself involved in extra-curricular activities. Because of my involvement I acquired more friends and had a much better time. I began to be myself around everyone at school and I accomplished so many things because of the perseverance I had witnessed in Australia . As high school went on I became more and more comfortable with myself that I decided to challenge myself and go to college across the country. Again, I had to start from scratch and use those valuable lessons that I learned from the team.  

The team taught me so many life lessons in two weeks. I feel as though the only way I can pay them back is to “pay it forward.” I had learned these lessons as a young child, but during this trip I saw those lessons in action. These people were not afraid to be themselves, were able to find humor in such heavy situations, made the best of each situation, and never gave up on what they set out to achieve.  As a team they worked well together but also made sure their individual performance didn’t suffer. They pushed each other because they were competing with and against their own teammates. Much like life in the "real world" I will have to use other people's success to push myself to achieve more, but still be supportive of their accomplishments. I will never forget what I learned while in Australia and I will always be thankful for everything that I have.

The writer mentioned she came out of her shell and got involved; although she commuted an hour, each direction, to school, she participated in varsity sports for all 4 years; MVP in Basketball & Track, League Champion Pole Vaulter, Cheerleader, Swim Team.  Four years on the honor roll, a Scholar-Athlete, Jr Class Prez, Basketball Homecoming Duchess, ASB Prez; earning peer votes of Central Catholic Raider of the Year and Senior Yearbook Best All Around.  During the winter months she left for school in the dark and returned in the dark. She also received   scholarships, leadership awards and attended numerous leadership conferences around the country. 

She asked to go to the private school where she didn't know anyone, and she decided to go to college across the country.  Her freshman year of college she made the National Dean's List, the Women's Crew Team, had a job at the university, volunteered as a "Camden Angel", was a Freshman Representative for Rutger's University Recreation Center Committee, and was one of a handful of Freshmen invited to participate in the Associations of College Unions International Leadership Conference.       

When she learned that no one had applied for the job of the 2007 US Disabled Water Ski Team Manager, she applied ..... to provide her thanks and appreciation .... and to pay it forward.  Due to some age requirements in the scope of the job (like renting cars/vans for which one must be at least 25 years old-which she won't be for another 6 years) the committee did not select her ... but encouraged her to apply again when she's older.

It's so very true that we live our lives, mostly unaware that our words and actions, a smile or kind word even, can affect another so powerfully. So please, and thanks, remember just that.  Never forget that what you say and do can change another's life.  Keep putting good stuff into the universe, thereby raising the positive energy level of the planet.  Together we can change the world!

P.S. If you'd like to help pay it forward to the US DisAbled Water Ski TEAM, please (and thanks) click on my Wish List below for some specific ideas .... if you don't like any of those ideas ... cash donations are always welcome :)  Send as many millions (or dollars) as you'd like to USA Water Ski *1251 Holy Cow Road * Polk City, Florida * 33868 .... do add a note that your donation is for the US DisAbled Water Ski TEAM.  

Please ....... and Thank You very much:)