The Long Road to Her First Race

Last year, she tried out for the team, and didn't make it.

We thought about advocating with the coach to let her swim anyway. Come on! She was so close! And now she is going to have to come to all the practices and meets and watch her brother anyway.

But we didn't.

Instead, we signed her up for a class. She spent all year working on it. Getting better. Getting stronger. And faster. Determined.

This fall, she made the team.

And last week was her first race. Freestyle. That's her in the center lane...

And now, this race and her efforts over this past year enter the mythology of who she is - a tough, un-deterred, patient, goal-oriented, go-getter. A force to be reckoned with.

There is power in sports to help us see what we are capable of. To give us the stories about who we are and how we show up in the world.

The $200 we paid for those swim lessons, or fees for the swim team this year - they were no brainers for us.

But for some girls, living in poverty or even homeless situations, they are impenetrable barriers to this kind of experience they would so love to have.

Thanks to Dream Big!, 6,000 girls every year are breaking through those barriers.

Would you consider a gift so that even more will next year?