Picturing the Future with Fuel Up to Play 60

3..2..1… Rrrrrrring! Students run out of school at the end of the day. Some of the kids at my school are headed out to community fields to play sports like soccer, lacrosse, and football. Other kids board the bus to go home and watch TV or play video games after school.

Now I’ve learned from the Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador Summit that regular exercise will keep you healthy and happy – who wouldn’t want that?! But maybe there’s a reason why some kids don’t exercise. Maybe they don’t like team sports or they don’t consider themselves to be very athletic or competitive. It may be hard for kids to get a ride home from activities. It could be that they don’t realize how much fun it is to be active.

“Good news! There was an announcement inviting kids to participate in new after school programs. Zumba will be taught by one of the parents in the small gym, 100 Mile Club is on with high school volunteers at the track, and NFL flag football will take the field with our PE teacher! The activities end just in time to catch the late bus home. Sign me up!”

This is the vision and the story that I will take back to my school. At the Fuel Up to Play 60 Summit I learned that I am a leader who can make a difference at my school. I am very passionate about health and I will surround myself with positive and supportive people. The NFL players that we met told us that we should rely on our team to get things done. I will take this story and my voice back to my team at school. Together we will build an after school activity programs like the ones above that will be convenient, available for everyone, entertaining and fun.

I see a healthier and happier school year ahead. I had SO much fun at the Summit in Chicago, IL. Everything at the Summit was awesome – learning to be a leader, making friends and everything in between. Meeting Devin McCourty and playing NFL Flag Football with NFL players was sweet!! I also have to say that the YOUth Talks competition was amazing. Finishing in the top three, I got to share my speech, “Why Health Matters to Me” with over 300 kids and adults which was very thrilling and exciting. The Summit has inspired me to do as much as I can do to “Leave my mark on my school.”

Thank you Fuel Up to Play 60! I can’t wait for school to begin!

William
Connecticut State Ambassador
6th Grade