In my fourteen years as Assistant Cross Country Coach at Bowling Green High School, I’ve been given the privilege to work with a wide number of wonderful student athletes. I have watched students walk into our program coming from all walks of life, with strengths and weaknesses, who collectively work for the greater good of one another. Some of them come to us knowing they are good runners, others because they want to be a part of something. Some students come to us not knowing what to expect and as their experience in cross country unfolds, they find that being a part of the team is exactly what they needed. They work hard together, they struggle together, they pick one another up, they celebrate each others’ wins and losses, they work together for a common goal and they get to do all of this together. They find their place. Friendships are made in this space where if placed anywhere else, they may be overlooked or untried because of judgment, or because turning the other way is the easy way.
These wonderful hard working athletes aren’t just cross country runners though, they are ALSO members of the marching band, orchestra, choir/madrigals, Model UN, FFA, and various clubs that serve our Bowling Green community. The positive impact that sports and extracurriculars have on the students in our district is immeasurable. It gives our adolescence a safe place to work and strive to become better all around people. Students who are involved in just one or even multiple extracurriculars learn important life skills through these activities. Time management, leadership, problem solving, team work, resilience, and the value of setting and achieving goals. These are just a few examples of skills essential to make up a whole self. They also build young positive contributors to our community, through their efforts. These extracurricular activities are a vital part of what makes Bowling Green a special place to live. From the holiday parade, to the various events that BGHS choirs, orchestra, and bands provide entertainment for, to the fundraising efforts of BG FFA and DECA programs, I can promise that more often than not, a majority of Bowling Green citizens benefit in some way from our schools and its students whether they realize it or not.
As a lifetime resident of Bowling Green, I have watched our community in its ebbs and flows in regard to our schools. I was raised here, and taught at a young age the pride in what it means to be a Bowling Green Bobcat. I was able to participate in extracurriculars because of support from varying members of our community, not just ones who currently had children enrolled in the district. I chose to stay and raise a family and coach here, because I believe in our community and the wonderful opportunities it provides for families. I am urging you to think about the vast change our Bowling Green community will experience if this levy fails. A failure in this levy is a failure for our future Bobcats and residents in Bowling Green. Please help in preserving the pride of Bowling Green and VOTE YES for our schools on May 6th!
Thank you for your consideration.
Lisa Carney
Bowling Green
