FALL 2020 • OPTIMUM VOLUME XX
41 ATHLETICS
A FOREVER SPARTAN BY EMILY PACHELL ’23, STS STUDENT
I’ve developed leadership skills I didn’t know I had!
I have been an athlete for as long as I can remember. However, I didn’t start to excel in sports and discover my passion until becoming a part of the STS Athletics program. The opportunities and sports teams are such positive experiences, they have shown me what it truly means to be a Spartan. My love of sports came from my parents, and the environment I’ve grown up and developed in. I am a "lifer" at STS and for the past nine years, have been fortunate to be a part of a community that encourages my passion for being active and competing. Being a Spartan has fueled the excitement and love that I have for athletics through the competitive and safe environment our STS Athletics program creates. I’ve developed leadership skills I didn’t know I had! After three years as a Middle School Spartan athlete, I have made friends for life, bonding through the love of sport and team that we share. During our 2019-2020 basketball season, our Junior A team of 12 girls had a bunch of injuries, and along with a few other reasons, only four of us could play. Remarkably, our tiny team with big hearts won our last game of the season, despite being down in players and points. That experience brought us closer together and made us feel more like a team than ever before. We put everything we had into the game, and it was awesome to see the results. I’m so thankful I’ve had the chance to have these kinds of experiences. It’s a safe bet to say that being an athlete, especially in such a welcoming community, has made me a better person and adds to my student experience. I want to pursue athletics for as long as possible. Even though I know club and school sports may come to an end someday, STS has given me the drive and determination to pursue my dreams. Most definitely, I see myself having a healthy and active future, learning new skills and pursuing the sports I love in some way. STS Athletics has inspired me, through positive teacher role models and a safe environment, to grow and find my passions, and incorporate activity in my life always. Go Spartans!
