Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California, I have experienced a wide range of diversity in the classroom, in social situations, and through my golf experiences. I have also had many opportunities to travel around the country working with participants from different First Tee Chapters throughout the country. Not only am I a participant of First Tee, I am a volunteer mentor to other children. First Tee is a global non-profit organization that provides young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop life-shaping values such as confidence, integrity, perseverance, and respect through golf and character education.

A typical day at my Chapter goes something like this: “Can anybody tell me what you should do if your ball comes to rest in a hazard?” Another Saturday afternoon at the public golf course: sun shining, birds singing, breeze blowing, and a large group of young “pre-pars” sitting in a circle on the grass. My sister Megan and I hand out the Junior USGA Rules of Golf booklet. “Let’s turn to pages two. We need to learn this special rule because one day you might need to know the rule when you are out playing.” I am very fortunate to be able to work with a vast array of children from different backgrounds and cultures. This experience has greatly influenced how I view life, and becoming much more open-minded. I have learned that people are people, no matter where they are from. I have found that each person wants to be treated with respect and appreciated. I work very hard with my little “pre-pars” so that not only have they learned a little about golf, but they have learned a little about themselves in a positive light. I feel very fortunate to have these positive experiences and will carry them with me for my entire life. I now feel I have a great deal to share with others and I also feel that without these experiences I would not be the person that I am today.

Being an active member and volunteer for the First Tee of Contra Costa has provided unique opportunities for me to also visit places all over the United States that I probably would have never visited. Through a great deal of essay writing and interviews, I have earned the opportunity to participate in the many programs offered by the First Tee. Each unique experience has opened my eyes and my world. They have allowed me to develop friendships with people from all over the nation, from all walks of life, and all ages. I have had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Leadership Academy at Kansas State University with 100 other teens from all over the world. I was one of the fifty participants that attended the Future Leaders Forum at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I was honored twice with the magical experience of playing in the Wal- Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, with two great champions. Most recently, I was thrilled with the opportunity to participate in the Player’s Advanced Academy at the University of Richmond and play at the prestigious Kinloch Course. The Player’s Academy was extremely special to me because it was for advanced First Tee members interested in playing collegiate and professional golf. It provided me with the tools to better myself physically and mentally for my sport. I had to follow a thirty day exercise regimen and daily diet. I was extremely excited to attend this particular academy because I could also spend time with thirty other teens, from around the world, with similar aspirations and goals. Through all of these experiences, I have come away with a sense of well-being and motivation for improvement of myself and others.

First Tee has provided me with first hand experiences to meet people from different regions of the country and appreciate diversity outside of my small town in California. Not only have I experienced wonderful places, but I have met many people that have allowed me to appreciate the diversity in our world. Being part of the classes within First Tee has allowed me to learn from others and make personal growth. The classes have built my confidence on the course, in the classroom, and in life. The friendships that I have made have fostered my social growth during my development years. I have had the opportunity to meet people from all types of cultures and backgrounds, rich, poor, talented, famous, challenged, and struggling. My life learning experiences have taught me that people are genuinely just people and all people appreciate being treated fairly and respectfully. All of these experiences, I can say, were definitely life learning lessons.

The First Tee and my array of experiences have greatly contributed to my development in becoming a much better person, sister, daughter, student, volunteer, player, and most of all, humanitarian.