Meet Ellie Coe
Jamie Staton's Mile 2 Virtual Running Partner
Hi. My name is Ellie Coe. I am 18 years old and I am a senior at Hopkinton High School. Before I started participating in Special Olympics I had very little confidence. I was lonely. I didn't have many friends. When I was in middle school I tried to patriciate on the basketball team - but I didn't have fun and didn't feel included by my other teammates. I wasn't bullied - but I felt invisible. I remember saying hi to people in the hallways and they wouldn't even turn to look or say hi back - it was like I didn't even say anything.
When I was in 9th grade, I joined the Storming Hawks Special Olympics Team. I played unified basketball for my high school. Unified sports are when you have athletes (or people with special needs) and partners (or friends without special needs) playing together in basketball. When you are on the same team, you make friends with everyone. Partners learn that people
with disabilities can do anything that people without disabilities can do. The first game I went to was really good because I felt comfortable and there was no judgment.
That year, I went to the Youth Summit. The Youth Summit is an overnight trip where high schools across New Hampshire send one athlete, one partner and one chaperone to learn about Special Olympics and how they can get their school more involved. I went with my friend Ivanna and my coach. It was the first time I ever stayed away from home. I was really nervous before but I ended up having a lot of fun. I remember when I got home I told my mom, my life has changed now.
Today, I have friends. I met my best friend, Emmy Campbell, in Special Olympics. She is a unified partner. She plays with me on the Unified Basketball team. Emmy is always there for me. She and I hang out every Saturday. She and I take my dog, Apollo, to puppy training class then play video games at my house. Without Special Olympics, I wouldn't have met Emmy - and I wouldn't be the same person that I am today. I'm happy and proud. When I do Special Olympics I love to see that the athletes have a big smile and feel really proud of what they have accomplished - and I like that feeling too!
|
