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The Westmont Snow programs, especially Snowball, have had an impact on hundreds, if not thousands of Westmont students over the last 15 years. Here are some testimonials from Snowball alumni...
The Westmont Snow programs, especially Snowball, have had an impact on hundreds, if not thousands of Westmont students over the last 15 years. Here are some testimonials from Snowball alumni...
On the weekend I remember being absolutely terrified. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I was completely overwhelmed with thoughts saying that I should’ve have come, I should’ve stayed home or that this was a bad idea: I have never been so happy to be wrong in my entire life. On that weekend, I saw so many people break out of their shells. They were laughing and being crazy and honestly just being genuinely happy.
On the weekend I remember being absolutely terrified. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I was completely overwhelmed with thoughts saying that I should’ve have come, I should’ve stayed home or that this was a bad idea: I have never been so happy to be wrong in my entire life. On that weekend, I saw so many people break out of their shells. They were laughing and being crazy and honestly just being genuinely happy.
I had never seen so many people so comfortable and happy with life all in one place before and I was so amazed that one weekend could help and change so many people before my eyes. I made connections and relationships that I still hold dearly today and most importantly, I was given the best piece of advice in my life which was, “Being yourself is always good enough…it’s more than good enough.” Hearing this said to me in small group turned my whole mood and thoughts around. I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders and I realized that I spent so much time being afraid of showing people the real me because I didn’t want to be judged that I was in turn being someone that wasn’t me at all...
I had never seen so many people so comfortable and happy with life all in one place before and I was so amazed that one weekend could help and change so many people before my eyes. I made connections and relationships that I still hold dearly today and most importantly, I was given the best piece of advice in my life which was, “Being yourself is always good enough…it’s more than good enough.” Hearing this said to me in small group turned my whole mood and thoughts around. I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders and I realized that I spent so much time being afraid of showing people the real me because I didn’t want to be judged that I was in turn being someone that wasn’t me at all...
-Hailey Lechelt, Class of 2014
3-time Teen Staff Member
Westmont Snowball is one of those things that you can't explain entirely with just words. Westmont Snowball is a feeling. A feeling of love, and hope, and courage. No matter what I give to this program, it gives to me tenfold. Every weekend I attend is better than the last and it is due to those who continue to help the program grow...
Westmont Snowball is one of those things that you can't explain entirely with just words. Westmont Snowball is a feeling. A feeling of love, and hope, and courage. No matter what I give to this program, it gives to me tenfold. Every weekend I attend is better than the last and it is due to those who continue to help the program grow...
Westmont Snowball is something you truly have to experience at least once in your lifetime. I promise, you won't regret it.
Westmont Snowball is something you truly have to experience at least once in your lifetime. I promise, you won't regret it.
-Mary Kurt, Class of 2011
Adult Staff Member
My first Snowball was in Spring 2011. The theme was "Gotta keep your head up". At first, I was so nervous, constantly thinking “What am I doing here?”. “Who’s going to be in my group?”. “Are any of my friends going to be [there] or am I going to be all alone?”. I remember sitting on the bus going to camp thinking all of these things over and over again and all I wanted to do was curl myself into a ball because of how nervous I was. Once we finally got to camp and settled into small groups, all of my nerves went away and I felt like I was finally able to be myself...
My first Snowball was in Spring 2011. The theme was "Gotta keep your head up". At first, I was so nervous, constantly thinking “What am I doing here?”. “Who’s going to be in my group?”. “Are any of my friends going to be [there] or am I going to be all alone?”. I remember sitting on the bus going to camp thinking all of these things over and over again and all I wanted to do was curl myself into a ball because of how nervous I was. Once we finally got to camp and settled into small groups, all of my nerves went away and I felt like I was finally able to be myself...
-Calli Thurm, Class of 2014
When I went to my first Snowball, I was new to the school district and had no friends. Through Snowball, I made friends with people who I didn't know lived on the same block as me. I felt that I had truly become part of the Snowball family.
When I went to my first Snowball, I was new to the school district and had no friends. Through Snowball, I made friends with people who I didn't know lived on the same block as me. I felt that I had truly become part of the Snowball family.
-Hannah Grimm, Class of 2018
Snowball has given me the world. It has given me a home away from home, best friends, better relationships, leadership experience, an understanding of the people in my school and so much more. Snowball has a special place in my heart and when I was younger all I wanted to do was go to snowball and I am more than grateful that I got to experience everything from participant up to Director.
Snowball has given me the world. It has given me a home away from home, best friends, better relationships, leadership experience, an understanding of the people in my school and so much more. Snowball has a special place in my heart and when I was younger all I wanted to do was go to snowball and I am more than grateful that I got to experience everything from participant up to Director.
-Katie Rosol, Class of 2019
Snowflake 2017 & Fall Snowball 2018 Director
I've seen how we can come together in our small group and reach out to one another who needs help or acceptance or is struggling right now. It's feels good to know it can make a difference to someone if we make the weekend one they'll leave their worries behind and come back stronger to face the world.
I've seen how we can come together in our small group and reach out to one another who needs help or acceptance or is struggling right now. It's feels good to know it can make a difference to someone if we make the weekend one they'll leave their worries behind and come back stronger to face the world.
-Ben Padgitt, Class of 2019
Snowball has given me life long memories and even though everyone goes their own ways and stuff, I will always have those people in my heart.
Snowball has given me life long memories and even though everyone goes their own ways and stuff, I will always have those people in my heart.
-Katie Schultz, Class of 2019
Snowflake 2019 Director
Snowball has taught me so many things.
Snowball has taught me so many things.
1) it’s taught me how to lead others and care for people
1) it’s taught me how to lead others and care for people
2) it’s made me a LITTLE more organized haha
2) it’s made me a LITTLE more organized haha
3) it has taught me how to dedicate myself to things to make sure I have the outcome that I want
3) it has taught me how to dedicate myself to things to make sure I have the outcome that I want
4) and most importantly, it’s taught me to be a compassionate person. It’s made me more aware of the people surrounding me and how they are feeling whether they show it or not. It’s made me care about people who otherwise I wouldn’t even bother to pay any attention to and it’s given me a solid group of people who I know I can count on for anything .
4) and most importantly, it’s taught me to be a compassionate person. It’s made me more aware of the people surrounding me and how they are feeling whether they show it or not. It’s made me care about people who otherwise I wouldn’t even bother to pay any attention to and it’s given me a solid group of people who I know I can count on for anything .
-Lily Welch, Class of 2019
Spring 2019 Director
Snowball has impacted me because I know so many people around me who I have never met or known anything about before are all super kind once you get to know them. Everyone has a shell but once you break that shell and earn their trust nothing can hold back a genuine friendship.
Snowball has impacted me because I know so many people around me who I have never met or known anything about before are all super kind once you get to know them. Everyone has a shell but once you break that shell and earn their trust nothing can hold back a genuine friendship.
-Troy Schlicher, Class of 2019
Snowball has made a large impact on my life. The friendships I have created with students and adults are super amazing. It has made me feel not alone in my darkest times and has easily brought light to my life. I will be forever grateful.
Snowball has made a large impact on my life. The friendships I have created with students and adults are super amazing. It has made me feel not alone in my darkest times and has easily brought light to my life. I will be forever grateful.
-Saleena Zakhem, Class of 2019
Snowflake 2018 Director
This program has had the largest impact on me than anything else. I have learned about my peers, my teachers, and most importantly, myself. I have created such strong and unique bonds with people that I know would NEVER have been possible without the Westmont Snow programs.
This program has had the largest impact on me than anything else. I have learned about my peers, my teachers, and most importantly, myself. I have created such strong and unique bonds with people that I know would NEVER have been possible without the Westmont Snow programs.
-Lexi Johnson, Class of 2019
Snowflake 2019 Director
Snowball helped make me into a leader that I’ve always wanted to be besides being on the field and helped me relate to other people’s situations.
Snowball helped make me into a leader that I’ve always wanted to be besides being on the field and helped me relate to other people’s situations.
-Ishmay Kone, Class of 2019
Spring 2019 Director
Ever since I started the Snowball programs, I’ve realized the problems that all people go through, and they should be given a safe place to talk through their struggles. Everyone has problems, and they should not be belittled over having them, we need to be more accepting and understanding of others’ lives.
Ever since I started the Snowball programs, I’ve realized the problems that all people go through, and they should be given a safe place to talk through their struggles. Everyone has problems, and they should not be belittled over having them, we need to be more accepting and understanding of others’ lives.
-Nick Charlton, Class of 2020
Fall 2019 Director
Snowball has had an impact on me by showing just how many people around you are there for you if you need it. Most of my friends go to Snowball too and being able to connect more deeply with them over the weekends has made me really see how much they care for me and how much I care for them. It has shown me that although you may not talk about bad things in life every day, there are always people around me that can be there for me.
Snowball has had an impact on me by showing just how many people around you are there for you if you need it. Most of my friends go to Snowball too and being able to connect more deeply with them over the weekends has made me really see how much they care for me and how much I care for them. It has shown me that although you may not talk about bad things in life every day, there are always people around me that can be there for me.
Also, I have seen how small actions that I can take can have such an impact on others. From making people smile by giving them a warm fuzzy to taking a step to reconnect with lost friends has really shown me that small actions can really go a long way. It has made me more cognizant of my impact on others and that I can have an impact on others, even if I think the actions that I am taking are small ones.
Also, I have seen how small actions that I can take can have such an impact on others. From making people smile by giving them a warm fuzzy to taking a step to reconnect with lost friends has really shown me that small actions can really go a long way. It has made me more cognizant of my impact on others and that I can have an impact on others, even if I think the actions that I am taking are small ones.
-Amanda Rosland, Class of 2020
Snowball has taught me that it's okay to be myself. It always seems to bring out the best in me. I always seem to laugh and smile more when I'm at Snowball events, and this feeling of joyfulness that I experience in Snowball always reminds me that there's so much of life to take in. And I deserve to feel joy simply because I am a person. I also like how I'm able to connect with people, especially in the small groups after skits. I love helping people, and Snowball has given me an avenue to do so.
Snowball has taught me that it's okay to be myself. It always seems to bring out the best in me. I always seem to laugh and smile more when I'm at Snowball events, and this feeling of joyfulness that I experience in Snowball always reminds me that there's so much of life to take in. And I deserve to feel joy simply because I am a person. I also like how I'm able to connect with people, especially in the small groups after skits. I love helping people, and Snowball has given me an avenue to do so.
-Anika Bhoopalam, Class of 2020
The program has provided me with so many opportunities to make new friends and grow as a person. I've met some of the best people in my life on this retreat, and it's also helped me to deal with a lot of mental issues I've struggled with over the years.
The program has provided me with so many opportunities to make new friends and grow as a person. I've met some of the best people in my life on this retreat, and it's also helped me to deal with a lot of mental issues I've struggled with over the years.
-Griffin Chapman, Class of 2020
During freshman year, I went through a lot. Snowball was a place I knew I could talk about it, and was honestly the catalyst that started me down the path of getting help for myself. Through Snowball, I have learned to love myself and my crazy brain, and that it's ok to ask for help and depend on others. I also have gotten so much closer to a bunch of juniors, and have built friendships with people that I don't think I would have originally been friends with. Through Snowball, I also got a lot closer with adults in the buildings and now have people I know I can go to if I am struggling. Through Snowball, I feel like I have become a better person and I hope that I can help others get to a place that I am in now, because everyone deserves to feel good and happy.
During freshman year, I went through a lot. Snowball was a place I knew I could talk about it, and was honestly the catalyst that started me down the path of getting help for myself. Through Snowball, I have learned to love myself and my crazy brain, and that it's ok to ask for help and depend on others. I also have gotten so much closer to a bunch of juniors, and have built friendships with people that I don't think I would have originally been friends with. Through Snowball, I also got a lot closer with adults in the buildings and now have people I know I can go to if I am struggling. Through Snowball, I feel like I have become a better person and I hope that I can help others get to a place that I am in now, because everyone deserves to feel good and happy.
-Emily Czaplewski, Class of 2020
Fall 2019 Director
I was not very social in the beginning of high school, and I think that Snowball is something that changed that for me. I was forced to speak to people I never would have otherwise, which is the point of Snowball groups, and it worked out so well for me. I ended up in new friend groups, found my real friends, and made new ones.
I was not very social in the beginning of high school, and I think that Snowball is something that changed that for me. I was forced to speak to people I never would have otherwise, which is the point of Snowball groups, and it worked out so well for me. I ended up in new friend groups, found my real friends, and made new ones.
-Stefana Hernandez, Class of 2020
Spring 2020 Director
Being a new member of the district and coming from a small private school, Snowball really changed my life. I had never before seen or heard of everything other students go through, and it really opened my eyes. I made so many new friends from Snowball and it has forever changed my life.
Being a new member of the district and coming from a small private school, Snowball really changed my life. I had never before seen or heard of everything other students go through, and it really opened my eyes. I made so many new friends from Snowball and it has forever changed my life.
-Rachel Padgitt, Class of 2020
Spring 2020 Director
I never went to Snow events in Junior high but when I got to high school, I tried it and I loved it. Snowball has had such a great impact on my life, I have made so many friends at Snowball and strengthened so many relationships with people. I think that it's honestly just awesome and I loved every minute of Snowball.
I never went to Snow events in Junior high but when I got to high school, I tried it and I loved it. Snowball has had such a great impact on my life, I have made so many friends at Snowball and strengthened so many relationships with people. I think that it's honestly just awesome and I loved every minute of Snowball.
-Nicky Erdmann, Class of 2020
Snowball has helped me to feel loved and accepted and like I actually have a group of friends that I can lean on. I was able to get close to the people that I had just met and start to become really good friends. I also started to feel like no matter where I was I always had a support group and can always have someone to turn to.
Snowball has helped me to feel loved and accepted and like I actually have a group of friends that I can lean on. I was able to get close to the people that I had just met and start to become really good friends. I also started to feel like no matter where I was I always had a support group and can always have someone to turn to.
-Megan Allen, Class of 2020
More testimonials will be posted in the future! Keep checking back!
More testimonials will be posted in the future! Keep checking back!
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