Special Olympics Bocce Ball

Last Sunday, 4/22/12, I volunteered at the Bocce Ball event for Special Olympics.  This experience was great for me.  It was so rewarding to work with all of the athletes and to see their dedication.  This service project reminded me of when we were talking about the values of Americans.  One of the values that was mentioned was our competitiveness.  I would ask all the athletes how they did and if they won their matches and I didn't think there was anything wrong with that at the time.  When it was time for lunch my friend and I sat with some of the athletes from Lamb's Farm.  When I was sitting next to a women athlete, I asked her the question I had been asking the athletes all day, "Did you win your games today?"  When she responded to me she said, "No, my partner and I lost both games but the important part is that we had fun."  Her answer to my question made me stop and realize that I had fallen in to the category of the "typical american".  I had put competitiveness at the top of my priorities.  This women had taught me that the most important part isn't winning, it is to have fun.  As I was falling asleep last night I thought about this more and I realized that this women who I had just met had impacted my life greatly by teaching me that winning isn't everything.  Having fun and being with the people you love is the most important.  It made me realize that I need to check my priorities and stop being so competitive about everything.  She made me realize that instead of asking the athletes if they had won their games or what medals they had gotten, I should have asked them if they were having fun and enjoying the day.  This project was so rewarding for me and I can't wait to volunteer again on May 6th for the Special Olympics Track and Field day at Lake Zurich High School:) 

~Liv