Tar Heels Look Back On Coach For College
Nov. 12, 2008
Last summer, 10 North Carolina student-athletes joined with 10 student-athletes from Duke to travel to Vietnam as a part of a new program called Coach for College. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils spent three-week spans conducting sports clinics and educational programs with the goal of helping youngsters develop some of the academic, life and other skills they would need to eventually attend a college or university. The UNC participants - junior rower Andi Drabot, senior rower Carly Dressler, senior wrestler Daniel Llamas, senior volleyball player Lauren Prussing, senior tennis player Austin Smith and senior fencer Jessica Wacker as well as graduates Bekah Brinkley (volleyball), Colleen Farley (track and field), Shawna Kelly (gymnastics) and Colette Lowe (women's golf) - were happy to look back on what all agreed was a phenomenal experience and share some highlights with TarHeelBlue.com. What made you interested in participating in Coach for College? Bekah Brinkley: I was most excited about the Coach for College program because I have a passion for international travel and for kids, so this program combined those two loves. The opportunity to travel overseas and work with kids from another culture and share my experience as well as my love of athletics with them was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I knew I had to take advantage of.
Andi Drabot: I originally heard about the program through an email. I almost thought it was another spam email until I actually took the time to read it. I have always wanted to volunteer abroad, and it was the perfect opportunity to do so. Additionally, it was also a great opportunity to meet other athletes.
Carly Dressler: I don't really know what I want to do when I'm older. The only thing I'm really sure about is that I want to coach on the side. Every year the highlight of my summer is working basketball camps at my old high school. When I got the e-mail, I knew how much fun it would be. I also knew Coach for College would be helpful for me in my future coaching endeavors.
Colleen Farley: As a student-athlete I had little time to participate in study abroad programs. I have always been interested in traveling and gaining hands-on knowledge about other cultures. When I saw that the program was in Vietnam I was nervous how my family and friends would react because of the association with the war. I did get some harsh reactions but I've heard such great things about the country and the people that I wasn't concerned with such ideas about their culture. I was happy and willing to help underprivileged students recognize their potential in both academics and athletics.
Shawna Kelly: I knew after I graduated that I wanted to travel abroad, but I was looking more for an integrated volunteer experience in country rather than a vacation. Coach for College was a great fit for me because it gave me the opportunity I was looking for and allowed me to apply skills I'd acquired through collegiate athletics at Chapel Hill to inspire children. I was interested in a career in international development, and Coach for College was a great bridge between graduation and starting a career in international health.
Daneil Llamas: A friend on mine from the wrestling team, Evan Sola, traveled around rural Asia and told us how awesome and beautiful it was out there from his previous experiences. So when I got an email from Cricket Lane explaining this Coach for College Program there was no doubt in my mind I wanted to participate. I would like to be a coach and maybe even a teacher in a few years and thought this trip was made just for me.
Colette Lowe: I got an information e-mail from my academic advisor, and when I read the description, I thought it sounded like a really unique opportunity that would fit my interests perfectly. I love foreign countries, I love kids, I love sports, and I love relaying what I've learned throughout college being a student-athlete to anyone who is willing and able to learn. Lauren Prussing: I was first drawn to the program because it seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Now that it is over, I hope that it's not just a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, but that I get to do more things like Coach for College. The program combined two things that I love - kids and sports - so it just seemed like the perfect fit. Austin Smith: I was looking for something to do last summer that would be different than anything I have done in the past. When I found out that the program was across the world in Vietnam and I was almost immediately sold. Soon I found out more about the program, how we would be working in a middle school helping out kids, and I knew it was a chance of a lifetime. Another thing that really interested me was the fact that it was all athletes and that there were kids from Duke going as well. Jessica Wacker: I love traveling, learning about cultures and volunteer work. It also just sounded like a great idea. During season I don't have the time I would like to give back to the community.
What was the highlight of the experience for you?
Brinkley: I loved the daily interaction with our kids at the school. Their enthusiasm and contentment with life challenged me to re-evaluate the way I approach my own life. I am blessed with so many resources, but I take them for granted on a daily basis while these kids are denied access to education and other valuable resources.
Drabot: The highlight of my experience was this little exercise Daniel Llamas and I led in our Leadership and Sports class where the kids got to choose a problem in their community and figure out possible solutions. For the kids in Hoa An province, living in such a rural area makes it hard to believe that one person can make a change, but the kids spent a lot of time figuring out step-by-step how to make the changes they wanted to see. I really think that these kids can make a difference in their communities. Sometimes all it takes is one person to get the ball rolling, and there were definitely a lot of creative and innovative ideas coming directly from the children.
Dressler: On the last day of camp we had a competition day, which was definitely my favorite because we were able to see the kids put together all that they had learned in three weeks into the games. Also, watching the excitement of the campers build over the three weeks was awesome. Farley: Learning about the Vietnamese culture and seeing their country was a highlight of the experience. I understand that is a little broad, but the way we live is vastly different from the way they live. The people there are friendly and accepting; they do not associate us with the war, which made me relieved because we were there to help. To see the way the families lived was eye-opening, and until someone sees and interacts with such situations first-hand it is hard to simply imagine how lucky we all have been in many areas of our life. Kelly: Most of the children didn't speak much English, and to communicate directly with words was sometimes impossible. I resorted to body language, and from the first day of coaching soccer I initiated the "high five", an interaction the kids didn't understand at first. Giving the kids "high fives" was a great way to break the ice as well as communicate they were doing well. We had been there a couple of days before the first time a kid came up to me with a huge smile to "high five" me his own. I really felt like we had connected. My favorite memory of Coach for College is walking down the hallway during classroom swapping, when all the teachers and kids pass each other on the way to the next activity. All the kids would reach out to high five me and call me their various nicknames or shout our inside jokes. My favorite joke was the word "banana" because during health class my skeleton bone blackboard drawings looked like bananas to them. They thought this was hilarious Llamas: The last day of camp, which was an athletic and academic competition between all the teams. The kids were so excited and tried their hardest in every event. Looking back, that is one day that I will never forget. Lowe: The absolute highlight of this experience was the inevitable impact we made on the kids. Although they spoke no English, and we could never communicate one-on-one, they were devastated when we left. On our last day, they were crying and yelling out English they had learned including "forget me not." It was clear to me then that we made a real impact on their lives, and I couldn't believe how much we were able to affect them in just three weeks. Prussing: I don't think I can pick out one experience or one moment that was the best, because we made so many awesome memories. One of the best things though was walking into the school every morning and seeing the kids already there waiting for us and so excited to start the day. They all had such positive attitudes and were so much fun to be around. Even though we could never really have a conversation with the students because of the language barrier, we still built a strong connection with them. Smith: There were so many awesome experiences that we had and it is hard for me to narrow it down. One of the best and saddest moments was the last day off camp. The final day was competition day and the kids were so excited. They competed so hard and were having so much fun. The look on their faces when they received prizes from UNC and Duke was an image I cannot describe. When the day was over we had to say good-bye and there was barely a dry eye to be seen. It was the last day of camp that I really realized how much we had meant to the kids and how much they had meant to us over the past 3.5 weeks. That was one of the many highlights of my experience. Wacker: I had a great time the entire trip. However, the highlight for me was the last day with my kids in class. I actually felt like all the work and lessons had paid off and they would take away from the program the importance and benefits of sports and higher education.
What part of the trip was the biggest surprise for you? Brinkley: The level of mental exhaustion was surprising to me. I didn't expect to be so tired at the end of the day after trying to communicate with the kids. I knew I would be physically tired, but the level of mental exhaustion was something I didn't realize would be so intense. Drabot: The biggest surprise for me was how warm and caring the Can Tho students were. If we ever needed anything, we could ask them. They had to work so hard to not only translate for us, but also to understand the main points and translate it in a way that the kids would understand. Dressler: My biggest surprise was on our one day off. We had three free hours and decided to go up to the school just to play basketball. No one knew we were coming and it was a Sunday so it was closed anyway. However, within 10 minutes of us being there probably 50 kids had already showed up, and within an hour I bet there were at least 100 kids and/or community members there watching or playing with us. Farley: We worked with college students to help translate to the campers and during our time there we discussed the cost of college. For the students to go to Can Tho University is a mere $100 each semester. For many of the U.S. students that went on this trip we came away feeling that if we were able to afford it we would be more than willing to offer scholarships for at least one of the students we worked with. I have spent $100 in one trip to the grocery store and for these students to struggle with going to college for $100 each semester is something that I find difficult to accept. As times have changed many students in the U.S. take a college degree for granted but these students don't have the advantages that we do when it comes to education. Kelly: I was surprised how much in common I had with the Vietnamese students. I got to know one student, Luong, very well as we both had just graduated from college and weren't sure where we were headed next. Talking with her and realizing we had similar aspirations and fears was really comforting. Llamas: Coming into this trip I truly didn't know anyone that was going on a personal level, and by the time we left it was like we had known each other for years. The athletes from UNC and Duke were great to be around, even 24 hours a day. Also the connection between us teachers and the students surpassed anything that I could have imagined. The language obstacle was not even a factor by the end of the camp. Lowe: I was surprised how well some of the educational classes were conducted. There were some very complicated lessons that were taught in biology and physics, and our translators did a wonderful job relaying the information to the children. I was so surprised how much information they retained when they got to express to us in our trivia challenge at the conclusion of the camp. Prussing: I think the biggest surprise for me was discovering how good Vietnamese food really is. Initially I was a little nervous about eating such a foreign diet, but I loved every meal! Smith: One of the biggest surprises was how poor the kids really were, but how happy they seemed. We were able to go to one of the kids' houses and it was absolutely amazing to see how they lived. One boy lived with his parents and three other siblings. Their house consisted of a dark hut with mud/dirt floors, bugs everywhere, and the farthest thing from a feather bed you could image. I knew we were going to see a lot of poverty, but it didn't hit me how much we have in the U.S. until we saw their house. You never would have known that these kids lived in such horrible conditions, they were always so happy. Wacker: I was surprised by how welcoming the culture was. They took us in instantaneously and shared what little they had. Has the experience had any effect on your goals following graduation? Brinkley: This trip confirmed some desires and ideas I had about my future. Before the trip I knew I wanted to pursue a career involving international travel and interaction with other cultures, but I wasn't sure what that would look like. This trip to Viet Nam confirmed those desires and challenged me to find ways to make a difference in the lives of children even now while I'm here in the States. Drabot: I have always wanted to work for a non-profit organization, and working with Coach for College solidified my decision to be an International Studies major. No matter how much you read or study your books, it's the hands-on experience that really counts - the interaction with others is what makes your time spent in the library worthwhile. Dressler: The trip solidified that I want a career in sports. Coach for College is grabbing national attention quickly. I am still working with the program to make it better for the next couple years, in addition there are opportunities for internships and possibly be the director of the camp next summer. Farley: To be honest, not necessarily. After only one session I have been able to reach out to the students for a three-week period of time but I had to return to the U.S. and find a job that is hopefully related to my degree and need to pay my bills. With the economy the way it is we all understand how frustrating this can be. I think it would be amazing to go back year after year to hopefully see the same students and see how they are impacted by the program, but it's hard to see that growth after only one year. Because this program is only 3-6 weeks (depending on how many sessions each student decides to work) we have 46-49 other weeks in the year that we need to return to our everyday schedules. Over time this program will produce amazing opportunities for a number of Vietnamese students but it will take time, time that I hope will be given to the program because it is a great idea. Kelly: Participating in Coach for College confirmed for me that my career is in international development. I also know for sure that I'm interested in living abroad for an extended period of time. I was in no way ready to leave Vietnam to return to the States. Llamas: After this program I think that my path as a coach was solidified. Coaching these kids through translators was very challenging but I figure if I loved doing it without speaking the kids' language, I think coaching wrestling here would be my perfect fit. Lowe: This experience has made me want to pursue helping to promote education in foreign countries where it is not important in their culture. I believe that we made a very significant impact on the mindsets of children and how they feel about higher education. I believe we influenced how important getting an education was to them, and I think we should continue to spread this message to more countries. I want to stay connected to Coach for College and help out with its expansion and future development. Prussing: Our experiences in Vietnam opened my eyes to a whole new world and really inspired and touched me in so many ways. And because of the trip, I have been looking into serving kids overseas after I graduate for a year before I dive into a career. Smith: Going into the trip I really didn't know exactly what I was going to do after school, and I still am not 100 percent sure. I do know that this trip has opened my eyes very wide to the world out there and I am very interested in doing Coach for College or something similar to it next year. Wacker: I know I want to travel more. I would like to get my MA/PhD in Speech Language Pathology and maybe work with an organization like Operation Smile to travel and help children with clef lip and palates.
Is there any lesson or bit of knowledge that you took away from the program? Brinkley: I learned so much about Vietnamese culture and the way they approach life. I would love the opportunity to spend more time in Viet Nam working with the people there to encourage them and help them gain access to resources we take for granted. This trip challenged me to live a more conscientious lifestyle, and to look for ways to make a difference in these kids' lives now that I'm back in the U.S. Drabot: It really put my life at home into perspective and taught me to be grateful for all of the opportunities that I have had simply because I was born in the United States. Some of the kids we worked with had to help their parents in the fields or take care of their other brothers and sisters, and they have an enormous amount of pressure on them. Many kids don't get a chance to go to college, and I really hope we can make a long-term difference in the lives of these children. Dressler: I learned not to be afraid of failure. I almost didn't fill out the application because the program was so perfect for me, and I thought there was no way I would be able to get in. Also, the whole program was put together by one person who had a vision but tremendous obstacles in her way, but she found a way to make it happen. Farley: Not to be cliche but to not take advantage of the opportunities I've been given. I was raised in a great place with a great family and was able to come to one of the best Universities in the country to do what I love- study art and run track. I've walked away from this with a degree and no student loans and it is still hard for me to fully understand how lucky I am for all that I have. Going to a place like Hoa An, Vietnam, and interacting with the people was an amazing chance for a reality check. Because of the hard work and dedication I put into things like academics and athletics I have been able to do many things that I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise; these are the types of things that we were teaching the campers. Focusing on doing well in one area of life is important but to be well-rounded in areas such as academics, athletics, family, friends etc. will greatly impact your life in a positive way. Teaching something to someone else often makes you learn it better. Teaching these students about the importance of those things helped me to recognize how I have been impacted by them in my own life and to not forget why I am where I am today. Kelly: There are opportunities and experiences in the States we get to be a part of that we don't even realize are a privilege. My friends in Vietnam have inspired me to try to be more appreciative and selfless. Llamas: I definitely do not take the little things for granted anymore. Going to these kids homes, which didn't have running water, mattresses, or even a mailbox, put me into place quickly. Sometimes I thought I had it bad because I didn't get the things that I wanted in life, and when I looked at these kids who were as happy as a kid on Christmas day in day out without things that were necessities, made me truly appreciate my life as a whole. Lowe: The most important lesson I learned is that even though you may not be able to speak the same language, two people can connect on a significant level just by showing that you care. It was clear to these kids that we cared even though we could not ever exchange two words with each other. They were significantly affected by our presence and were deeply saddened upon our departure. That was amazing. Prussing: Even though Vietnam and the United States are on opposite sides of the world, people are people and we are all generally the same. We all have the same needs, same desires. Going to Vietnam made me realize that the world is really a lot smaller than I used to think. Despite the drastic change in culture, the Vietnamese people were absolutely wonderful!
Smith: I learned that we are very spoiled in the U.S.! The Coach for College Program really made me appreciate what I have and made me realized we have life very nice. One thing I learned was that you don't have to speak to communicate about sports. Sports is so universal and you can get far without even talking. For example, the language barrier was a big challenge for everyone and I found myself speaking louder (almost yelling) thinking the kids would understand me better when I was teaching tennis. Soon I realized that yelling only made my voice hurt and made me frustrated. I started doing a lot of hand motions and showing them how to do things rather than speaking louder. Wacker: Gratitude. I am thankful for all the opportunities I've had in life, especially being able to get an education and represent one of the best universities in the country. |
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