On Behalf of National Adoption Day

Yesterday was National Adoption Day. A day where we celebrate the forever families thousands of kids across the country that are finalized. And while this is a victory for thousands of kids, there is much work to be done. There are still 400,000 kids in foster care across the U.S. Then, there are the approximately 20,000 youth who age out each year, either at age 18 or 21 and are basically sent off on their own without any family to lean on. Often, nowhere to go for holidays, or with whom to celebrate birthdays. The statistics are grim, 1.8% of former foster youth graduate from college. 25% are incarcerated within two years of emancipation.

 And while I’m blessed to know a few extraordinary kids who defied these odds, even as the brightest and hardest working youth, they still struggle: with healthcare, with transportation, with food. And this is just the minimum for their peers who weren’t as lucky, who didn’t have mentors or role models to teach them work ethic, who have learning disabilities, who were abused. These are the youth of the state, or youth that the state tries, and often fails, to take care of.

However large this problem may seem to you, there are things you can do. You can help one child realize their potential, to succeed in school, to go to college, to get a job. Learn about the legislation and call your members of congress and ask them to support it. H.R. 2028, Every Child Deserves a Family Act, H.R. 1732 Strengthening the Child Welfare Response Act, CHIFF-the Children in Families First Act. Serve as a mentor in your community, as a foster parent, or as a CASA. Remember, while you may be blessed to have a family this holiday season, there are 400,000 kids in foster care, and thousands more emancipated, who don’t have a family to love them by no choice of their own. Do something this holiday season to help foster youth and former foster youth remember that someone cares. You could be the one person who makes a difference in a foster youth's life.  It’s as easy as a google search to get started and here are some resources:

http://www.ccainstitute.org

www.casa.org

http://www.fc2success.org/how-you-can-help/mentor-a-student/

"Carpe-Dieming" DC

It’s November, and I’m sitting outside at the Tidal Basin where the trees are slowing losing their beauty. It’s warmer than it has been, so I took the opportunity to bike out here, do my homework, and enjoy the last inklings of fall. I can’t help think back to May when I sat on the same bench, writing during one of my days off. To think of the amazing experiences I have had and the people I’ve met in the past 6 months brings me to tears, and I don’t feel sentimental about very many other places… maybe highland road park.

If carpe diem could be used as a verb I think I’ve “carpe-diemed” most of my time here. I’ve rarely turned down opportunities and suffered a worthwhile lack of sleep for many of them. I’ve met so many incredible people and still unsure of what the spring will bring me, I’ll be sad to leave my Capitol Hill and Noma neighborhoods. There’s something about living less than a mile away from the Capitol and being able to walk almost anywhere in DC (if you really wanted to) that makes you realize, it can’t get much better than this. Realizing that I only have 18 days left in DC for a little while, even though I’ll hopefully be back soon enough, I really don’t have many regrets. There’s definitely something about knowing you’re in the right place that gives you a sense of peace. As for life, tomorrow I’m going to breakfast with Samantha Power and Cindy McCain and to a movie with Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Colin Powell. So I guess there’s no more time to be sentimental until I actually go home and enjoy these one-of-a-kind DC experiences.

On another note, I watched this video about an 11 year old coming out to her middle school about her alopecia and it also made me sentimental. Although I didn’t wear a wig in middle school, I loved her spunky personality. I know Alopecia changes some people, like me for the best. She says how she wants to tell everyone about it so that she can create a domino effect of inspiration. Love it. Here’s the link: http://vimeo.com/78995135

And on a lighter note, here is an excerpt from a hilarious and encapsulating article someone wrote about living in DC on thoughtcatalog.

“Get invited to a gala or staff your boss at an event. See people you only see on Huffington Post, New York times or CNN up close. Realize you are in the center of it all. Hear the President speak. See the crowd move. Shake his hand. Stare at hand. Call your parents.Pause on a beautiful spring day. Smell the cherry blossoms. Think: I live in DC.”

P.S. Let me know what you think about my new blog format please!

Crossing Bridges and Appreciating Adversity

Besides running my first race in a while, lots of other things have been happening in my life (it’s DC, so of course they have J)

Two weekends ago, I traveled to NYC to visit my friend Emmi, watch the NYC marathon, and visit the UN with my program. I went to dinner with Emmi and her roommates and then woke up early to go to Queens, which was mile 13 of the marathon. I was able to hang out with my friend Mr. Dick Buerkle for the whole day and watch his son and wife run the marathon. In case you don’t know, I met Mr. Dick after finding out there was a former world record holder who had Alopecia and basically stalking him on the internet until I found his phone number and spent 3 weeks convincing my dad to call him (keep in mind I was in middle school), and he did call him and Mr. Dick decided to come. It’s safe to say our friendship has been mutually beneficial. The first time Mr. Dick ever really spoke publicly about Alopecia was to my high school track team and he continued to come back each year for the Tortoise and Hair. I called him often for running advice and he called me to see how my life was going. It was neat to meet a lot of his family members and they’ve all done some really cool things, like work for the UN and travel to lots of different countries. We chased around his son and wife all day and I remembered how inspiring big marathons are from the elites to the everyday people and the disabled.

With Mr. Dick in NYC

I was also able to go on a beautiful run with Emmi, one of my longest friends from running, who became an honorary member of the Episcopal team when she didn’t have a coach in high school. We attempted to remember where we met and we settled on running camp in middle school, although we couldn’t entirely remember. We shared many races at highland and many long runs at the lakes on Sunday morning back in the day.

Running with Emmi

I also toured the UN with my class, which was really neat. My favorite part was standing in the security council room with my friend from Russia and talking about how we would one day fix all of the problems between Russia and the U.S.

With my Russian friend Valeria in the Security Council Room at the UN

On Memorial Bridge with my dad

This past weekend, besides running, I took my dad on a grand tour around DC and the surrounding areas. We saw the beautiful harbor in Alexandria, University of Maryland, and went to see President Obama lay the wreath on the tomb of the unknown solider at Arlington. Unfortunately, we got on the last bus and the motorcade come through early so they didn’t allow us to go. Having waited in line for 1.5 hours we were disappointed, however it was a beautiful day so we trekked across memorial bridge to Lincoln, Washington, and the Capitol. I’ve crossed a lot of bridges lately: The bridge to NYC, bridges while in NYC, a beautiful bridge in Delaware, the Woodrow Wilson bridge, and my ultimate favorite- the unnamed bridge that the yellow line metro crosses from L’enfant plaza to Pentagon which gives an amazing view of DC.

This weekend I am excited to have very few plans for the first time in a while, only church and giving a capitol tour on my radar. I think this can be seen as a true measure of my happiness here. While I love my adventures, sometimes I definitely need some down time, whereas I would have never allowed myself this time in the past. Yes, there are plenty of uncertainties in my future, but there’s no reason I can’t do my best to face them head on and trust that everything will work out as it’s supposed to. As I was talking to Mr. Dick’s 12 year old niece who speaks 3 languages and has lived in 4 countries (but DC is her favorite place J), I was thinking what an exciting life she has at a young age and she said you have a cool life full of adventures. And I thought, well you’re right, many parts have been rocky, but I’m lucky and the adversity makes me life’s adventures that much more. 

Running: A Poignant Metaphor for Life

This past weekend I competed or should I say ran in my first race in 22 months. Following sickness, injury, and “retirement”, I decided this summer I would run a half. I’d only run one official half in my life, and that was in 2007. I told myself I would do some long runs, and not make a lot of sacrifices, because I had sacrificed so much of my life training during high school and college. That was basically my training plan: Have fun and do some long runs.

As I toed the starting line last Sunday, it was a different atmosphere than I had ever experienced. It was dark, cold, and there were lots of people I’d never seen before. I’d always run with a team, or at least known half of the people at the race if it was in Baton Rouge. Standing outside shivering I wondered why exactly I was doing this and the purpose of it since I am a little OCD about everything in my life needing to have a purpose. For the first time ever in a race, I was totally anonymous. I knew exactly zero people in the race and knew there would only be one person cheering for me: my dad. Contrast this to the races at Highland where I knew almost everyone finishing in the top 25 personally and had at least ten people I’ve never spoken to cheering for me. But, this was fine, better than fine it was exactly what I wanted.

with my dad after the race 

For the first time I can remember there was no pressure, just the excitement of running through DC, VA, MD, seeing beautiful trees, conquering some hills and a beautiful bridge and having fun. Although I can never squash my desires for a challenge and a new PR, after so many years of being far from anonymous it’s nice. When you decide to do a race for fun, there’s an enjoyment in the process. You realize that 7:45 pace for long runs or 8:00 pace doesn’t matter all that much. You’re able to enjoy the conversations along the way. I had conversations with my run group about early childhood education at 6 am, saw the sun rise over National Cathedral, met someone appointed by the DOJ, a famous blogger, and had many worthwhile chats. People I would be unlikely to meet otherwise, I met on the run.

Woodrow Wilson Bridge

As I ran down George Washington Parkway with about 3000 others, I passed the beautiful fall trees and serenity of the sunrise. In the relatively rural area of Virginia, there were few spectators. The miles clicked away, I ran faster than I thought I should, but ran next a wounded warrior and a guy who would scream every time he saw a spectator. I prepared myself for the bridge at mile 10, and when I reached the top I was pleasantly surprised with a beautiful view of Alexandria and the capitol in the distance. Passing photographers, I attempted to smile. Seeing the strugglers, I knew it was my time to pass as many people I could. Struggling up a big hill at mile 12, I thought back to the hundreds of times running up the hill at mile 2.25 at highland and how every single time it had been hard, but I had made it. As a rounded the final corner and saw 1:37, I was surprised, thrilled, and exhausted. My only goal had been to run under 8 minute pace, but I surpassed it greatly, averaging 7:27 for a total of 1:37:43. And as content as I was with this, I cared the least I’d ever cared, because just finishing was enough.

rounding the last corner

Thinking back to last September, when I spent many nights crying not knowing if I’d ever be able to run again, I smiled (and almost cried) looking upon this small act that brings me so much joy and feeling more blessed than ever for the ability to run. To me, running is structure. Running is discipline, strength, and the ability to dig deep into your heart, legs, and lungs when your brain is sure you have nothing left. Running is a work ethic, determination, humility, and inspiration. Racing is joy, grit, and passion combined. Running is a poignant metaphor for life.

P.S. I'm still in pain, but just signed up for my first marathon. T-minus 122 days, March 15th, Rock n Roll USA, I'm coming for ya.