Last week, twenty-four high school girls from First Tee chapters across the country attended the First Tee Drive Your Future Academy presented by John Deere, hosted at the Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco. Two of our own First Tee – Silicon Valley participants attended this awesome event and came out of it with memories and perspectives that will last a life time.
The Drive Your Future Academy consists of interactive workshops with inspirational female guest speakers from many different types of STEM careers. The attendees also participated in a guided volunteer experience and were able to play the not yet opened Golden Gate Park Par 3 Course. Lastly, everyone went on a hike through the Muir Woods and spent time reflecting on the weekend, the things that they had learned and seen, and the practice of being in the moment.
FTSV Participant Isabella Herrera
For FTSV participant Isabella Herrera, the experience was very impactful. The group attended a group volunteer trip to the Pomeroy Rehabilitation Center where they set up SNAG games with tennis balls and Velcro, and taught the others how to play the golf games. According to Isabella, “Seeing all these nice people learning how to play golf despite the challenges they face was a really heartwarming moment”. Working with the people in the Pomeroy Center is an experience that she says will stick with her for a long time, along with the friendships she formed while she was there.
National Opportunities
National opportunities like this one give First Tee – Silicon Valley participants unique experiences to grow, learn, and impact others. The important life skills learned in the regular program are reinforced in real world ways. To find out more about these opportunities, please contact Phoenix Jarrell-Desch [email protected].