This year, UCS is launching Brag Reports — a chance for schools and students to share their successes, ideas, and inspiring experiences with our team and with each other. These reports celebrate the impact of Unified Champion Schools by highlighting the stories, moments, and lessons that make our community so powerful.
One shining example comes from Alison at Pleasant Plains High School, who shares how her time at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games shaped her leadership and strengthened her passion for inclusion.
Alison’s Brag Report
These past three summers, I have had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Youth Leadership Experience at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games. These experiences have not only deepened my appreciation for the volunteers and members that work for Special Olympics Illinois, but also given me lasting memories and friendships.
From the moment you arrive, there is a unique energy in the air, the atmosphere is filled with excitement, compassion, and unshakeable determination. The athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families all come together in a celebration of inclusion, perseverance, and joy. One thing I will never forget is experiencing Opening Ceremony for the first time. The energy is electric and the stadium is full of people, all ecstatic for the days ahead of them.
One of the most rewarding parts of this experience has been getting to meet new people from all walks of life. Whether it was exchanging stories with fellow volunteers or cheering side by side with athletes’ families, every interaction reminds me of the powerful connections that sports can create. I was also grateful for the leadership experience I gained. Whether helping coordinate events, guiding athletes through their schedules, or stepping in to solve unexpected problems, I was able to grow my confidence and skills in a supportive, high energy environment. Being trusted in these roles helped me see myself as a leader, and someone who can step in when it is needed most. Above all of the things I have taken away from this experience is the interactions with the athletes. Their determination, sportsmanship, and sheer joy were nothing short of inspiring. Watching them compete with fierce focus and unshakable enthusiasm, reminds me of what true strength looks like.
As I reflect on my times at Summer Games, I walk away with a full heart and a firm belief in the power of inclusion, leadership, and human connection. This event and experience reminds me that we are all capable of greatness and that sometimes, the most meaningful victories are the ones that happen off the scoreboard.