drone photo by Grant Laman
Thomas Jefferson High School’s female athletes celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day as well as National Signing Day.
On Wednesday, February 6th, student athletes across the country celebrated both National Signing Day, a day dedicated to the ceremonies of high school students signing with their respective colleges for athletics, and National Girls and Women in Sports Day, an annual celebration devoted to the acknowledgement and appreciation of female representation in athletics. In conjunction with a plethora of other high schools across the breadth of the nation, Thomas Jefferson High School held events throughout the school day in celebration of both annual festivities.
The TJ community is fortunate enough to boast over 200 female student athletes, many of whom have already signed with colleges or will be signing in the distant future. On February 6th, 2019, TJ female athletes gathered together in the gym for a photo in order to celebrate female representation in sports. This was not just limited to sports and teams sponsored by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), as it extended to all females involved in athletics (even outside of TJ) in order to accurately depict the large and diverse range of female involvement in sports and athletics. Later in the day, students, parents, and teachers alike gathered together during office hours in celebration of two female senior athletes, Jaelyn Jackson and Siale Sandoval, whose signings to their respective colleges, Claflin University and Northwest Nazarene University, took place on National Signing Day. “I really enjoyed seeing all the people that pushed me forward, which was very emotional because I know I couldn’t have done it without them,” Sandoval reflected. While there is a myriad of exciting collegiate opportunities lying ahead of her, Sandoval explained that she is most excited for the community aspect of playing volleyball at NNU, as she stated, “I am most excited for playing with girls that will become my family, and being a part of something bigger than myself.”
In conjunction with these celebrations, it is important to recognize the necessary prevalence of female representation in athletics in order to continue fostering growth of the female demographic in the sports world. Whether they have been involved in athletics since a young age or are new to the world of team and/or individual sports, it is important for girls to come together, celebrate their own achievements, and encourage new generations of girls to continue their legacies as athletes. There are so many incredible benefits of participating in sports; however, one of the most notable is definitely the ability to participate in something that many may argue defies the ‘female archetype’ by allowing girls to play their hardest and speak out unapologetically. “Girls are often taught to be nice and accommodating to others, and to not speak up too loudly for what they believe because they might be labeled ‘difficult,’” commented TJ Athletic Director Anne Rice, “But athletics is a place where girls don’t have to apologize for being strong, aggressive, independent, and confident,” she concluded.
In addition to providing a platform for females to speak out and be independent and strong, athletics teach girls and women important leadership skills that can be applied to their work. According to a survey conducted by The Huffington Post in regards to the connection between women in athletics and leadership, 74% of constituents stated that a background in sports can help accelerate a woman’s career due to their leadership skills and strongly developed work ethic. These are just a few of the many reasons why female involvement in athletics is so beneficial. “My advice for younger female athletes is to work hard at being yourself. You are perfectly enough, if not more. You need to just focus on being the best you, and being stronger than you were yesterday, or breaking habits that don’t help you achieve your dreams,” Sandoval advised, “Own yourself, and be confident in who you are. Also, don’t be afraid to be better than the boys!”
