This summer, Emma was one of three First Tee — Greater Philadelphia participants selected to attend First Tee Game Changers Academy in Minneapolis, joining 72 teens from First Tee chapters across the country.
Game Changers Academy is a five-day national opportunity focused on self-awareness, inclusive leadership and community building. Participants are selected through a competitive application process, with applications reviewed by a committee before teens from across the country are chosen to attend.
For Emma, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was the opportunity to connect with people she had never met before. She especially enjoyed “meeting new friends and being able to relate to them” while having meaningful conversations with coaches and chaperones throughout the week.
Through workshops, group discussions and activities, Emma said she learned more about “having a positive mind and knowing your limits of what you can do.” The experience also gave her an opportunity to put skills she has developed through First Tee into practice in a new environment.
“First Tee taught me to be more outgoing and not afraid to take steps, so on the trip I was able to branch out to more people,” Emma shared.
That confidence is something she plans to carry beyond the academy. Whether she is at school or paired with someone new on the golf course, Emma wants to make an effort to start conversations and connect with people she may not already know.
Her advice for future First Tee participants selected for an opportunity like Game Changers Academy reflects one of her biggest takeaways from the week:
“Definitely don’t be shy or afraid to do new things and talk to new people, because most of the time, no one knows each other there.”
For Emma, Game Changers Academy was an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone, build new relationships and return home ready to keep putting her growing confidence into action.
