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Recognize the MVPs in Your Life By Ophelia Mak


Kristin Stawiarski, 17, is last year’s Youth in Action Me to We Awards winner. Kristin created the Kids Helping Kids Campaign to allow less fortunate children to be touched by the magic of dance. Nominate someone for the 2007 Me to We Awards today at www.metoweawards.com.
Athletes with the ability to lead and the compassion to help others are awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP). This long-standing tradition recognizes excellence in sports, but what about recognizing excellence in helping others? My own sports experience showed me the importance of improving our communities by reaching out to others. It has got me thinking about the kind of person I’m going to nominate for the upcoming Canadian Living Me to We Awards.

At the tender age of 11, my parents decided to put me on a swim team. I was horrified because I didn’t know how to swim and I suspected long training hours would be involved. Most of my teammates started swimming when they were very young, so I was always the slowest swimmer on the team. Training consisted of two hours of non-stop swimming, every day from five to seven p.m.

Though I was reluctant to join the team at first, spending my afternoons in the pool allowed me to meet some of the greatest people I will ever meet. It was their words of encouragement that allowed me to shine as a swimmer and the lessons I learned from them would carry far beyond the pool.

During one of my meets, my coach placed me in the 100m butterfly. I was anxious because I was not a butterfly swimmer. My teammates told me before my race that they would be proud of me no matter what. I managed to finish the race but was disqualified for finishing my last 50 metres with the breast stroke. Even though I was disqualified, my teammates hugged me and congratulated me for finishing the race and putting in my best effort. It was then I realized the importance of teams.

It is through teamwork that a community grows stronger. We must first work together to create a solid foundation on which to build our personal dreams and goals. When I look back on my swim team days, I feel as if I’m taking time to recognize those who played an important role in my life and in the shaping of my community. In swimming, it was the team encouraging the slowest swimmer to finish an intimidating race. Similarly in life, there are those special people that challenge us to dream. These people are life’s MVPs.

By nominating a friend who’s making a difference for the Canadian Living Me to We Awards, you are giving thanks to those that helped shape your community, and perhaps your own life.

Which team-player will you nominate?

Nominate a friend for the Canadian Living Me to We Awards
Learn more about the Canadian Living Me to We Awards
Join the Me to We movement

Free The Children is the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has an established track-record of success, with three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah’s Angel Network.
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