This is the fourth and final installment of Andrea Slavin’s blog where she relates her experiences with America Scores NY as the first ever ECC Student-Athlete to work with Coach Across America. In this edition, Andrea relates the emotional finish to a great summer of learning and helping children learn. We are very proud of Andrea and the good work she did with the program. Student-athletes interested in becoming involved in Coach Across America should contact ECC Commissioner Bob Dranoff at rdranoff@eccsports.org.
Read Andrea's First Blog Here.
Read Andrea's Second Blog Here.
Read Andreas Third Blog Here.
by: Andrea Slavin
Well, this is it! This is my last blog. This one was the toughest
for me to write. Not because of the content, but because it is the
realization that my experience with CAA is over. This has been, by
far, one of the best summers I have ever had. CAA exceeded my
expectations and gave me the chance to reach every goal I set for
myself and for my kids. I sat down with America Scores Site
Supervisor Rob Uvanovic on Monday and we had the chance to review
the summer as a whole. I learned a lot from the feedback I was
given and enjoyed sharing my thoughts on the experience with Rob as
well. It was bittersweet; speaking about how much fun I had this
summer. It allowed me to relive memories and specific coaching
moments, but also allowed me to bring the experience to a
close.
My last couple of days coaching both groups of kids was a lot of
fun. With the morning group of SCORES kids, we had time to play
their favorite games, as well as have a little party at the end.
This group was phenomenal. They were so coachable and it makes me
proud to say that each and every one of them showed a dramatic
improvement with their soccer skills. I grew attached to this group
of kids and can't wait to visit them in the after school program
during the year!
While the SCORES kids were near and dear to my heart, I really made
a major connection with the children from the youth program
Aspira that I also worked with. This was the younger
group that I coached all on my own. The last afternoon
session with these kids was almost heart breaking. I had so much
fun with them that day. We played whichever games they liked best
and I left a good amount of time to throw them their own party. I
bought them party hats, juice, cookies, candy and stickers! They
had the funniest looks on their faces when they saw just how much
stuff I brought for them. Before I handed anything out, I sat the
kids down and told them how proud I was of them. I told them that
their skills improved, but most importantly, that their overall
character improved. They became incredible sports who grew to show
a very caring side to all people that they came in contact
with.
After I finished speaking, I asked them to tell me what they
learned or what their favorite part of summer was. They all raised
their hands and instead of telling me what they learned, they all
told me how much they were going to miss me. They told me I was the
best coach they ever had and that they were already sad to think
about never seeing me again. This was the most special moment of
the summer because everything that each child was saying meant so
much to me. You could tell that they meant every word and I wish I
could have recorded it. Even though I didn't get it on
camera, I at least have it on paper. They gave me a bunch of cards,
all saying things like, "you're the best coach I ever had", "I love
you", and "thank you for teaching me soccer". The entire day was
full of pictures, laughs, hugs, and tears.
By the end of the session, the kids gave me the best group hug
ever! As all the kids started to peel off of me, I looked down and
saw that one boy, Jeremy, was still clinging to me. I told him I
was going to miss him and he looked at me with eyes full of tears.
He was hysterical crying. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen.
He was hugging me so tight and crying so many tears that it was
tough for me to hold back my own tears. Then, Alex, the boy I had
spoken about in my last blog came up to me and told me that he
loved me and was going to miss me. He also thanked me for being so
nice to him. I gave him a huge hug and told him that even though
I'm not there, I hope he continues to make me proud.
Needless to say, the train ride home from the city that day was one
I'll never forget. I had to keep my sunglasses on because I could
not stop crying. Some happy tears, some sad tears. I had 40 minutes
to myself, with just my phone for entertainment. I literally have
over 100 pictures of the kids I was working with in my phone. I
looked at each one with a smile, thinking about their cute
personalities. The thoughts going through my head were less about
how much I would miss them, and more about their progress
throughout the eight weeks of work and how much they have made me
proud. When I think about the time I spent coaching and working
with the children, I picture their faces, hear their voices, and
feel their presence around me. I have the most vivid memories and I
know that it's because I grew to love these kids with all of my
heart. If I could, I would write every kids name in this blog and
write something about each and every one. And each and every one
would have something different because they were so special in
their own way. These kids' personalities were a lot to handle at
one time, but I wouldn't change any of that for the world because
they are the ones who made this experience as great as it was.
Aside from the kids, I had the honor to work with the most
supportive co-workers. Their guidance and friendship throughout the
summer was unforgettable. We were able to build a relationship that
was beneficial to my coaching, making the soccer sessions better
and more successful for the kids. A lot of the reason I got along
so well with Rob and our other coach Rose is because of their
dedication to the organization and to coaching. They always had the
kids' best interest at hand, doing whatever would be best for the
kids. I share this same mentality with them. As a coach, you are
always learning. You're learning new ways to coach the same skill,
new ways to motivate kids, and new ways to make learning more
successful. Without an open mind to learning new things as a coach,
you will stay stagnant. You will never become better. And
unfortunately, the ones who suffer most from that kind of approach
to coaching are the kids. In order to help the kids to grow as
players and as people, they have to see you trying to do the same.
Rob and Rose put all their heart into what they do and I'm happy I
got to work with people like that.
Rob and Rose used to invite me to play soccer with them after the
day of coaching was over. As long as my schedule allowed for it, I
would go play. It would be a lot of fun because the games were very
competitive. I find the most joy in playing when I am challenged.
Now that coaching is over, they invited me to join a few teams with
them for the fall and spring seasons. I'm stoked and cannot wait!
Rob also told me that I have an opportunity to work with them
throughout the year at their different events. The best part is
that I can work with the program next summer as well! Rob told all
this to me at our meeting on the last day. He also gave me a sheet
with his feedback on it and I couldn't be happier with what was
written.
"On behalf of Rose and myself, we appreciate all of your hard work
this summer! I know you were only here for a short amount of time,
but you've been such a great addition to the team and I feel like
you've been here for so much longer! I know it was a bit of a
whirlwind when you first started, especially with you being sick
and a little new to the city, but I think you handled it well. Rose
and I both thought that you did a fantastic job with both groups of
students this summer and I loved the enthusiasm, creativity and
commitment that you brought to your position everyday. I hope that
you keep the lessons that you've learned at ASNY close and carry
them over to your next position. The door is always open at ASNY
for you and we hope that you'll be able to come check out events in
the future and/or get involved again next summer! I really look
forward to seeing the career that you build in SBYD. Thank you for
all that you do." - Rob Uvanovic, ASNY
When Rob wrote, "I feel like you've been here for so much longer!",
he wasn't lying. We spoke about it and it was so odd to think that
I was only there for 2 months. The bond that we had as a coaching
staff came very natural and we genuinely enjoyed each other's
company. They made me feel so comfortable and I have a lot of funny
memories to look back and laugh at.
Rob also wrote, "I don't think I need to tell you this, but
coaching a team of poet-athletes is obviously something that you
excelled in and it was a pleasure to watch you in action. The
younger Aspira kids will miss having you as their coach and as well
as our SCORES students. Both sets of students really benefitted
from having you work with them this summer. Your strongest
attribute as a coach is your ability to own your coaching space and
have the presence that draws students towards you. The gym for
summer camp can be nuts - but when I was there, it seemed like you
always had things under control." This kind of feedback is very
confidence lifting and I appreciate every kind word spoken by Rob.
It also helps that I have this kind of feedback on paper written by
someone else. It makes me realize that I really did make an impact,
and that was all I could have asked for.
With that said, I'm going to conclude my final blog. Not only has
this experience helped me become a better coach, but it has given
me something to look back on and smile at. I am so thankful
and so honored that this opportunity was given to me. I went
in as a college graduate who was an experienced coach, who also had
a teaching background. I came out as a CAA graduate who is an
experienced and open minded coach, who has learned to take the
positive experience and bring it to my future teaching. Things that
I learned about teaching in college were helpful. But the things I
have learned through this hands on experience are life-changing. I
feel like I have the motivation to be the best teacher I can be
because I feel like I have acquired so many new skills that will
help me bring out the best in students. Before this experience, I
had the knowledge and skills necessary to be a good teacher. Now
that CAA has come to an end, I feel I have the knowledge, skills
and experience necessary to be a great teacher.
I would like to thank every person who has supported me throughout
this entire experience. My friends at Queens College including
former Associate AD Peggy Gioia, Soccer coach Carl Christian,
the QC athletic staff, Steve Mosco, and the CAA and ASNY
staff. I would like to especially thank Rob and Rose for
their exceptional guidance; ECC Commissioner Bob
Dranoff for his support and commitment to helping make this the
best experience possible, and my Mother and Father for their
unconditional love and patience. They would pack a lunch for me in
the morning and make sure I had some coffee for the ride into the
city. They dealt with the stress I released, the millions of
stories I told, the late hours, and the tears at the end of the
experience. They are remarkable and I wouldn't be where I am at all
if it weren't for them!
I can honestly say that I love my life and am grateful for all of
those that have helped me get to where I am. I am grateful for the
kids that I've had to opportunities to teach and coach and will
take everything I've learned from them and put it to great use to
help my future students be as successful as they can be. I aspire
to be a great teacher and I hope I'm able to be a role model for
more students to come. I can't wait to continue my coaching career
and continue making my parents proud. Most of all, I can't wait for
the future. I can't wait to see where the kids I teach and coach
will be. I can't wait to feel proud.
Thank you Coach Across America, America SCORE NY, and the ECC.
Hopefully I'll see you again next summer!
