Guest post by Ciara O’Hara, class of 2025, a rising junior who recently returned from being an exchange student in Germany. This past year, Ciara was a leading scorer on the varsity girls’ basketball team, performed a lead part in Mary Poppins, and worked part-time. She has been a Waldorf student all her life.
Playing a sport at KWS has brought me some of my best school memories. One of my favorites was our varsity girls’ basketball team going undefeated this past season and becoming champions in our division. I have never seen a group of girls work so hard as they did throughout the season, and we got to do what we set out to as a team and as a family.
Our team travels throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey to play, and I think being able to travel with your team helps build relationships and brings the team closer every time. If you play high school basketball at KWS (or even if you don’t), once a year you get to experience an amazing weekend called the Waldorf tournament. Waldorf teams from all over come to our school for a three-day basketball tournament. Every year this tournament brings so much happiness and fun to our school and I couldn’t be more grateful that we have it. I have made some amazing friends at this tournament and have gotten to spend time with some of the best people.
As soon as you join a sports team at KWS you become part of a family and with that, there are responsibilities for each member. We work together as a team by showing up to practices, being there for our teammates, and always cheering them on no matter what the circumstance. We are a team, a whole, and I have never seen that so clearly as I do at KWS.
As you grow and start playing sports in high school not only does it begin to impact you physically, but I have found that it also can help impact how you deal with things. I have learned how to manage schoolwork and a social life and playing sports all at once, and my teammates and coaches have done nothing but help and support me and everyone around me. Managing your time is so important if you intend to play a sport; it can all add up very quickly but there is definitely enough time for everything at KWS.
Something that I have found to be so important in managing all of these things in high school is to be never afraid to ask or feel embarrassed because you need some help, whether that be from a friend and teacher or a coach. I am working on enjoying every moment and always putting my physical and mental health first!
If you are thinking about playing a sport, whatever it may be, I highly recommend it, no matter if you haven’t played before or are not sure how good you’ll be. Either way, you will come out being better and look back at some of the best memories you will make in school.
