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March the MartPosted: August 6, 2008
By: Lauren Wiscomb
While being a high school student these days is no easy task, making it through your junior year is the real test of stamina. Somewhere in between college counselor meetings, ACTs, SATs, SAT IIs, junior theme papers, and regular homework, these 17- year old young adults must begin to think about life outside the walls of high school and where they might fit into it. For most, this involves figuring out where they want to spend the next four years–and maybe extends to a preferred college major– but for high school juniors like Kate Kennedy, Alex Bergonia, Lindsay Alston and Addie McDonnell, the thinking goes much further. ... While being a high school student these days is no easy task, making it through your junior year is the real test of stamina. Somewhere in between college counselor meetings, ACTs, SATs, SAT IIs, junior theme papers, and regular homework, these 17- year old young adults must begin to think about life outside the walls of high school and where they might fit into it. For most, this involves figuring out where they want to spend the next four years–and maybe extends to a preferred college major– but for high school juniors like Kate Kennedy, Alex Bergonia, Lindsay Alston and Addie McDonnell, the thinking goes much further.
In the midst of the junior year whirlwind, these four young people found the time to truly consider what effect they can have on their world outside of high school. It started with Kate and Addie's involvement in New Trier's Special Olympics Club and ended in an event that extended beyond what even these talented young women expected. Inspired by the achievements and attitudes of their fellow students who participated in the Special Olympics Club at New Trier, they decided that they could make it bigger and better.
"It made me so happy to see the kids get so excited, and to see them with friends, being accepted. It's just fun," says Kennedy of her buddies in the program. As much as they enjoyed the success, the girls realized that most special needs kids don't get the chance to participate in activities like the ones their club members enjoyed so much. Joined by their friends Lindsay and Alex, they decided to create a charity event to benefit Special Children's Charities, the organization that raises money for Special Olympics programs throughout the nation.
This small idea from four normal high school students grew into "March the Mart", a sponsored, 3-mile walk through Chicago's Merchandise Mart on Martin Luther King Day that attracted 400 participants and earned $49,000 for the Special Olympics. Looking back on it, all four girls were shocked at how much they had actually accomplished as "mere" 17-year olds. "We weren't treated like kids," they all agreed when explaining how they successfully achieved such a large undertaking.
As organizers, they were forced to make contact with many adults and sponsors; not all of them responded favorably. "It was like a roller coaster. Some people would say yes and others would say no, but it was really our passion for it that got us through to create the end result," explained Alston. And what an end result it was. The girls staffed the event almost completely with volunteers from New Trier. This not only made finding volunteers easier, but served to inspire kids their age to work for what they believe in. They even convinced a local band, Fair Herald, to play at the event.
After all was said and done, there was a distinct feeling of both accomplishment and relief. "It was really fun and rewarding despite all the hard work," said Bergonia when asked to reflect on her experience. After working so hard most people would take comfort in a little free time, but when asked how she felt about her newfound empty schedule, Addie replied, "What am I going to do after school now?" Worry not. The girls have already set a date for next year MLK Day event (January 19, 2009, for the curious) and are teaching younger students how to plan the event so that March the Mart can continue long after they leave high school.
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What an inspiration these girls are! Talk about making a difference......way to go!
by: Lisa @ Friday August 8, 2008 | 9:19:49 AM