I'm going to start this post by letting you all know that this is really hard for me to say. What I'm about to discuss is really important, but I feel like it might not be well received. However, it needs to be said. As a captain and, more importantly, someone who loves and is dedicated to her team, I am going to put myself out there and talk about the issue that has arisen recently. Please know I am not blaming, criticizing, or insulting ANYONE; I just want what's best for our team.
Today I was sitting in one of my classes and my classmates started talking about drugs. They were talking about some people who they claimed had been doing some drug-related stuff and I wasn't really listening, until I heard this:
"Oh yeah, the whole cross-country team does it."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah... Hey, do you think Kenaia's part of it?"
Unfortunately, this is not the first time I've overheard a conversation like this. It's not the first time I've heard people I know make comments about drug use on our team. But this is the first time I've heard people say THE WHOLE TEAM is some big drug fest. This is the first time my NAME has been associated with anything of the sort, which makes me pretty upset. I'm not trying to be cocky here, I've just never even thought that I could be related to a rumor like this. I was so surprised today in class I almost started laughing- I mean, are you kidding me?? I can take rumors like this with a sense of humor even if I'm shocked and irritated. But what about those newer members of our team, who joined cross country because they'd heard great things about us? What about the underclassmen who joined cross country for the sport, for the community? How would you feel if you knew people believed you were doing things you'd never even considered just because of this silly reputation?
If drugs are your thing, if that's something you choose to do, then I can't stop you. However, I don't think it's good for you or a good idea. It's illegal and can have serious consequences. It could cause you to develop an addiction, get cancer, or a number of other things. It can mess with your social, academic and personal life. Worse- it can actually KILL you. It can also have a very negative impact on other people.
Something like this affects our team. It makes it harder to bond with each other. It can create a divide between teammates when people feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing. It can cause health problems. It can destroy our reputation as a team.
Why is our reputation so important? It causes a huge problem with recruiting. People don't want to join a team that's known for less-than-ideal behavior. There's a school right now that has such a bad reputation that other schools are being overcrowded because students are so desperate not to be there. I don't want that to happen to us.
So I'm asking you all, as my teammates and as my running family: what are we going to do? Because this is not us, not what we should be known for. We are not the team that is going to be ridiculed and judged and gossiped about. When I joined cross country freshman year, I quickly realized it was the best decision I'd ever made. It has been a beautiful and amazing part of my world these last three years. It's not an exaggeration when I say it has changed my life, made me more confident, and introduced me to some of the coolest people I've ever met. We are at a pivotal moment in the process of building this amazing program- look at what we accomplished this past season! BOTH teams went to Districts for the first time in literally DECADES. We have a young team with the potential to go so, so far. There is nothing in our way... except this. So please, think. Just think about this issue. What can you do- what can we do- to rebuild our reputation and our community? Each day of the season- even right now, in the middle of the off season- I see you all working so hard to succeed, so hard to push beyond the physical and mental limits most people simply accept as impassable. So please, let's keep our team going strong. Let's be the most amazing thing that's ever happened to cross country at Chief Sealth. I believe in all of you- in all of us. I will ask this one last time: what are WE going to do?
