Oct. 24, 2005
by Cheytoria Phillips –
Lets hear if for the Seniors ……….
Today at practice we were incepted with a new project. We all expected us to follow our normal routine of getting dressed, taped, and down on the floor getting loose for practice by 3:30. However our instructions today were different. We were all asked to put our practice gear on, wear a pair of regular sneakers, grab a sweatshirt, a pen, and sit in our seats around the meeting table. I immediately thought that we were going to watch our scrimmage and analyze it ourselves but I was wrong. Coach asked Jessica to read this letter that a little girl had written about herself and her mom expressing her gratitude towards the volunteers and staff members of the Atlanta Union mission. The letter was so very heart warming and really showed me how little things that we take for granted daily can mean so much to another. After hearing the letter, we were all asked to write an personal inspirational message to an anonymous kid, take a couple of pencils, rulers, and stickers to hand out at the Atlanta Union Mission. That’s right we were taking a field trip and taking a little of our time to give back to the community that is around us. Sometimes we get so caught up in what it is we have going on that we don’t stop and spend time doing the things that really matter and that really affect another individual.
Once we arrived at the Atlanta Union Mission we got a tour of the facility. We saw the structure of the rooms and offices. Then after seeing the setup of the building we were lead to where the after school programs were talking place. We saw kids from the ages of infancy to fifth grade. Once we saw the classrooms in progress we were directed into the play room where my teammates, the coaching staff and I awaited the kids that we were going to meet. After being in the room for a few minutes the kids began to pour in like hot lava rushing down the volcanoes sides. Just kidding, but there were about 15 kids that we meet and interacted with. I had an awesome time. The kids really brought a smile to our faces. They were like little lighting bugs buzzing around the room intrigued by the height of some of my teammates and the fact of seeing so many new faces. I love kids because they just light up the room when they walk in. They are always filled with so much positive energy and are very inquisitive. All of the kids that I met had a huge smile plastered across their face and just were as excited as we were to meet them
After we left the Atlanta Union Mission we headed back to the gym to complete our individuals. I think that anyone who came to practice a little tired instantly was reenergize, pumped, and ready to go practice once we left the Atlanta Union Mission. While doing individuals we simply split into post and guards and went to work at getting better at the fundamentals, taking care of the ball, and playing slow. All I could think when we finished was thank goodness for community outreach programs, or any programs that could shorten practice, ha ha ha. Just joking, but really I especially enjoyed talking and playing with the kids and I know that the rest of my extended family did too. Interacting with those kids just reminded me that it’s the little things that leave lasting impressions, affect, and touch people the most.
*This is the second of several “entries” this season describing the team’s events leading up to the first game of the season. Keep coming back to ramblinwreck.com to see what the Yellow Jackets are up to this fall!
