Have you ever felt intense joy cheering on the first base
line of your favorite team? What about when a beloved athlete scores big? On
September 27th, our students had the chance to serve in a joyful
environment with Miracle League, a baseball league for children and young
adults with disabilities, and experienced all those stirring moments and more.
Among the host of opportunities we afford our students,
serving the community is one of our favorites. It gives students and staff the
chance to think outside themselves for a while, focusing more on the needs and
fulfillment of others instead. Last year, Rogers Summit students assisted
Miracle League and had a fantastic time. Creating a new tradition, we loaded up
two vans and traveled south to Springdale for an evening of three consecutive
Miracle League games.
While nerves and uncertainty started the evening, with
students thinking “what exactly do I do?” and “what if I make a mistake?” the
night quickly turned into a fun and nerve free way to serve. Students were
matched with members of Miracle League teams, assisting them in running bases,
hitting the ball and fielding. Others took turns as cheerleaders. At one point,
four Bentonville High School students ran out to the stands to start “the wave”
and a series of elaborate cheers. As they ran back to the first base line, a
“victory tunnel” was formed for each batter to run to as they approached the
base. They genuinely enjoyed strategically adding to the environment of the
game. It was fantastic to see our 8th-12th graders step
out of a comfort zone to aid in building laughter filled hours at the ballpark.
Courtney, an 8th grader from Pea Ridge who was matched
with a young boy in a wheelchair during the first game, absolutely adored the
chance to serve in this way. “The kid I got to help in a wheelchair, seeing him
do it, it touched me. I want to do it again… Helping the kids who may not be
able to do [baseball] without us is the best. Try it. Just Try it.”
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