Fall Activities - A New Beginning 

Walking down the halls of Conrad Schools of Science on a normal Tuesday afternoon is a flurry of activity—the squeak of sneakers on the tile floor, the wind as students rush to arrive at their next destination, the friendly shouts denoting the achievement of skills- all the familiar sounds of a busy after-school day. Whether in the halls or out on the fields, a beautiful kind of energy is building once the final bell rings at 2:15 pm.

On Tuesday, September 22nd, members of the Conrad cross country team were preparing to run and push themselves a little farther than they did the day before. For some runners at Conrad Schools of Science, cross country started because of family. For others, it started with a friend, a coach, or simply an opportunity to try something new. But after talking with some student-athletes, one thing becomes clear: cross country is about much more than running.

For Julian Ruffin, running runs in the family. He started cross country because of his brother, who first ran at Conrad before running in college. While the sport may have started as a family connection, Julian has found something of his own to enjoy. His favorite part of cross country is simply “the competition.” However, competition has also taught him an important lesson: “to be patient.”

Joseph DeBright started running when he was a middle school student at Conrad and has continued because of what he describes as “the environment.” For him, cross country has taught him to “keep pushin’ when things get hard.” That lesson extends beyond the Delaware race courses by learning how to continue working through a difficult task or situation.

For Melody Hoffer, however, joining cross country was less about competition and more about connection. She joined because she wanted to “make new friends”—and because, as she put it, “Alejandra made me [join cross country].” Once she joined, she found another reason to enjoy the team: “Coach Matt is my favorite.”

Friendships are also what keep Alejandra McKelligan coming back. She runs because she loves “running with friends.” And when asked about the team’s feeling of connection, her answer was enthusiastic and simple: “We love our coaches!”

Finally, Ira Gokarn’s cross country story proves that sometimes you never know where “trying something new” will lead. Ira began running in sixth grade after “Mr. Will” (former Athletic Director, Pat Williamson) suggested that cross country would be good training for swimming. She started with that main goal in mind, but something unexpected happened: she fell in love with running. Eventually, she quit swimming and continued with cross country.

Some join a sport or an after-school program because of family. Some because of their friends. Some to fill the void of boredom. But one main commonality is that they share the same experience that goes far beyond any finish line, touchdown, or common goal.

• -by Amy R.