2023 ACADEMIC ELITE TEAM AWARD - part three
This is the final article in our “Meet our Student/Athletes Off of the Snow!” series.
What a great essay journey it has been.
Our stellar student/athletes have reflected, written and shared. Their academic ski team essays have been a combination of inspiring recaps, candid reflections and insight into their magnificent thoughts and values. What a privilege it is for MMCF to have the opportunity to see a slice into the minds of the impressive student/athletes from MMSST! Excelling both in the classroom and on the snow is not to be taken lightly. These youth are amazing!
We hope you have enjoyed this essay series. Perhaps we have all encountered some different perspectives and possibly learned a thing or two. Thank you to all of the student/athletes who have generously let us publish their essays.
Again, to be a member of the MMCF Academic Elite Team requires one to maintain a 3.5 GPA while participating on the Mammoth Mountain Ski and Snowboard Team. The student/athletes are asked to write an essay when submitting their application. Because of the insights, engaging and inspiring essays that have been submitted, with permission of the essay author, we are excited to share them with you, our MMCF family.
ESSAY PROMPTS
Elementary School Students
Think about what it means to be a good friend. Describe three things that make a good friendship, and why they are important to you.
Middle School Students
Can failure be good? Discuss a time you made a mistake and what you learned from it.
High School Students
If you could give a TED talk, what topic would you discuss? Describe at least three main points you'd like to share and why this subject is important to you.
ADDISON KOENIG
If I could give a TED talk I would talk about what it is like to be a teenage girl in today's world. Being a teenage girl can be challenging. Messages about how we are supposed to look, behave, and think are continuously being conveyed to us. When so many demands are put on us, it can be difficult to know who we are and what we want.
Teenage girls' biggest challenge is dealing with body image issues. Being comfortable in our own skin can be challenging since we're taught to think that our value is based on how we look. The truth is that we are much more than what we look like. We are intelligent, creative, and capable of achieving great things. Teenage girls also struggle with the pressure to fit in. We are constantly told to be popular, dress correctly, and be a part of the right crowd. But in actuality, staying committed to who we are comes before trying to fit in with others. We have to value what makes us unique and appreciate it.
Despite these challenges, being a teenage girl can also be an incredibly empowering experience. We have the power to influence the world and bring out positive changes. We can use our voices to speak up for what we believe in and fight for ourselves and others. Supporting one another as teenage girls is one of the most important things we can do. We should encourage one another while recognizing each other's achievements. We are capable of incredible things.
In conclusion, being a teenage girl is not easy, but it's also not something to be ashamed of. We need to be proud of who we are and speak up to change the world. We have the strength, abilities, and power to build a better future for ourselves and others.
ISLA BRULAND
Social Media - Learn Tool for Acting, Singing & Music
If I we're going to give a TED talk, I would choose the topic of social media, and how social media can be a learning tool for acting, singing and music. In my house, social media is entertainment, sometimes negative, time consuming, and not constructive. I want to prove that social media can in fact be a positive learning tool for these artistic talents.
Social media has revolutionized the process of learning acting, singing and music, providing opportunities for aspiring artists to develop their skills and pursue their passions. As someone who deeply believes in the power of the arts, this subject is of great importance to me. Let's explore 3 key points that highlight the benefits of social media for learning these creative disciplines.
First, social media serves as an educational resource for aspiring artists. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are filled with tutorials, lessons, and live feeds by industry professionals. From vocal warm-up exercises and acting techniques to music theory and instrumental tutorials, artists have access to valuable content. This knowledge makes high quality instruction accessible to people who may not have access to formal training or expensive workshops.
Secondly, social media facilitates peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. Artists can connect with fellow enthusiasts from around the World, forming communities where they can share experiences, exchange ideas, and provide feedback to one another. TikTok and Instagram posts dedicated to acting, singing and music are a lot of help to others who want to learn. Engaging with like-minded individuals not only fosters a sense of belonging but also allows for inspiration. Projects and online lessons can be organized, offering valuable opportunities to learn from artists from interesting backgrounds.
Lastly, social media platforms offer a stage for artists to showcase their progress and receive feedback from a wider audience. Aspiring actors can share monologues or short films, singers can upload songs or original content, musicians can showcase their instrumental skills through live performances. The ability to receive instant feedback from a diverse range of individuals helps artists refine their craft and gain confidence. Furthermore, the support received from online communities can be a powerful motivator to continue learning and pursuing artistic endeavors. Last, the exposure can lead to future opportunities and paid for work.
In conclusion, social media has become an invaluable tool for learning acting, singing and music. Its vast educational resources, connections to people all over the World, and platforms for showcasing talent have transformed the way aspiring artists develop their skills and connect with others in their field. By embracing social media as a learning tool, individuals with a passion for the arts can overcome barriers, gain exposure, and find a community that helps their growth. Social media in my house is a good thing.
NADINE HRONCO
Being A Good Friend
Are you a good friend? Being a good friend is important for you to be and for others. Three arguments about being a good friend are that you need friendship in your life, not bullying and sticking up for yourself and your friend is important, and it's good to make new friends.
My first argument is that you need friendship in your life. If you don't have friendship, or you can't make friends, you'll be lonely. I've experienced loneliness one time, and believe me, it is sad! Friendship means making friends and being nice to others. If other people aren't nice to you, you should stick up for yourself. When people aren't nice to your friends, don't join in against your friends. Stick up for them, and try to comfort them and help them stick up for themselves. Having friendship is a very important thing when you want to be a good friend.
The second argument I have is not bullying others and sticking up for yourself and your friend is important. Does it feel good to bully? NO. Bullying isn't nice either. Bullies have no friends, and if they do, they're only friends with other bullies. If you bully, the only person that will be happy is you. Also, you won't be happy for a long time. You could get in trouble, so instead of bullying, be a good friend and stick up for yourself and your friend. If your friend sticks up for you, will you praise them and say thank you? You should! It makes your friend happy that you're glad they stick up for you. Also, you should stick up for your friends too! It makes you happy when they say, "Hey, thanks for sticking up for me back there." You get praised too! It's important to not bully and to always stick up for yourself and your friends.
My final argument is that it's good to make new friends. What if you or your friend moves? Or get sick? Who will you hang out with and talk to? New friends. If your friend does come back, you can introduce them to your new friend and you, your friend, and your new friend can all be friends together! One big happy group of friends. You'll all be friends and be so happy! Making new friends is so awesome!
I told you about being a good friend. Friendship in your life, not bullying and always sticking up for you and your friend, and making new friends, is all part of being a good friend and a kind person. Being a good friend is an important thing in life. I love to be a good friend.
DAVIN WOLTER
Healthy Diet
If I were giving a TED talk I would talk about the importance of a healthy diet. A healthy diet is more neglected than ever, a huge aspect of overall health, and especially important in athletics.
In the US, a healthy diet is more neglected than ever. According to the CDC obesity "increased from 30.5% to 41.9%" between 2000 and 2017. This is over a 10% increase in this period. Severe obesity during the same period rose around 4.5%(CDC). This is creating a major health crisis in the US. To make this even more terrifying, sources like NPR claim that the average American diet is only getting worse and that obesity related deaths currently outnumber the amount of smoking related deaths. If these trends continue, the current number of obesity deaths could skyrocket from their current levels of taking 900 lives a day(NPR). By bringing more attention to this issue thousands of lives and billions of dollars could be saved.
A healthy diet will easily improve the overall wellness of a person. Health care cost can be a good overall metric to measure someone's health. In general, a person who spends a smaller sum of money on health will be in better shape than a person spending thousands more. Compared to the average American, someone with obesity will generally spend $1,816 more money on health care (CDC). People who are overweight will be in worse health and have a lower quality of life than a similar person who is not overweight. By just making a few diet and lifestyle changes in our society such as getting proper sleep, paying attention to calorie intake, and eating according to the CDCS dietary guidelines, quality of life and increased health can be achieved in many of the around 137,551,451 obese Americans.
A healthy diet is also important for athletic success. A healthy diet is so important for athletic success that an entire job of sports nutritionist was created. The mere google search of the term generates over half a million articles and websites dedicated to the topic. The Mayo Clinic suggests that athletes follow many of the same things recommended by the CDC's nutrition chart. Nutrients are extremely important to athletes as well as protein, carbs and fats. Carbs help an athlete do the actual work in workouts and races. Proteins play an extremely important role in muscle development and repair. Fats are necessary to allow the absorption of nutrients. The Mayo Clinic also recommends a snack around an hour before and 15 minutes after a workout. Nutrition is extremely important to athletics.
A healthy diet would be the perfect TED talk topic. Nutrition is a growing problem in modern America, extremely important to health in general, and necessary in athletics.
MILLA HRONCO
Can Failure Be Good?
I think that failure can be good because when you fail, you learn from your mistakes. One mistake I have made and learned from happened this year in my English class.
We were taking a test, and I had finished early, so I asked my teacher, Mr. Mitchell, if I could get my book from my locker. He then told me that we only had a couple minutes left until we moved on to the next activity. As a joke, he let me read this very thick book, about 2763 pages. I think the book was about English, something someone in college would have to read. Being the overachiever I am, I asked Mr. Mitchell if I could borrow the book for the weekend. He said yes. I took the book home and realized, I'm never reading this. Why did I ask to borrow it? I'm so stupid. I left it at home when we went to Mammoth for training, and decided I would just put it back on the shelf on Monday without him noticing. I ended up asking my friend, who had the same class 1st period, to put it back on the shelf for me. I didn't want to have to talk to Mr. Mitchell about it. She put it back for me, and when I walked into class that day, Mr. Mitchell said, "Did that book make you never want to major in English?" I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded. Then I went to my desk and was glad that was over.
Overall, I learned to never bite off more than I can chew, and to be prepared and think ahead before taking on a big challenge. I will never, ever, make that mistake ever again!
