Pacelli student athletes attend TeamUP Conference
Published 6:33 am Tuesday, December 3, 2019
By Jean McDermott
Pacelli Principal
Pacelli student athletes, Axel Aguilar, Buay Koak, Caitlin Drees, Kendahl Lewis, Hailee Schaefer and Luke Weaver had the opportunity to attend a TeamUp Conference with other student athletes from Section 1A. On the drive to Rochester that morning, students were asking, “What will be doing?” “Who will be there?” The usual questions that we ask ourselves before something new.
New experiences can be scary, even for students who realize they will know five other classmates who will be with them all day. However, the jitters were gone by the end of the first half hour. Under the guidance of speaker and author Craig Hillier, their nerves vanished.
Pacelli students participated in the Section 1A Team Up workshop in Rochester, MN. Back Row L to R: Buay Koak (Freshman), Luke Weaver (Sophomore), Axel Aguilar(Junior). Front Row L to R: Caitlin Drees (Sophomore), Kendahl Lewis (Freshman), Hailee, Schaefer(Sophomore). Photos provided
When my administration asked me if I would like to take students to this conference, I jumped at the chance when I learned who was speaking. According to his website, Craig Hillier has a passion to work with students, educators and professionals. He has spoken to over two million people since 1990. His high-energy programs and contagious enthusiasm captivate audiences throughout the United States. Participants find themselves engaged in a story and then suddenly they are on their feet with an activity that drives the point even further. His programs are known to be up-beat, fun and educational.
Mr. Hillier has the skills and techniques to reach high schoolers by drawing them into his stories and positive antics. Hillier spoke with students about being positive role models and making positive choices in a way that students were able to listen to and think about for their future. Hillier spoke about leadership, how to approach situations as part of a team and how to look at things from different perspectives; all ideas and skills that are helpful for high school students.
Caitlin Drees participates in a team building activity.
It was interesting to see the student athletes think about what skills they bring to teams that they may be a part of, or how negative aspects can be turned into advantages. They learned how they can make any team, whether it is a sports team or not, a better functioning one.
The ride home was much different than the drive over. It was a time of reflection and thinking. While they didn’t ask a lot of questions during the workshop, based on conversations since, they paid close attention to what was being said about teamwork.
If you are interested in learning more about Pacelli Catholic Schools, please visit our website at www.pacellischools.org or email admin@pacellischools.org or call 507-437-3278 anytime during regular school hours.
