“Participating in ACE is worth it for me because I have never had a chance to see how other cultures live. I believe that everyone should experience working/living in a developing country at some point in their lives. The global health aspect of ACE India is important to me because I am strongly considering working in global health after Stanford.”
Cassidy’s past experiences with service include volunteering at the children’s hospital with her water polo teammates and serving as an Events Committee member on Stanford’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. As a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, Cassidy also participated in Theta Breakers, a fundraiser run to raise awareness and money for CASA. CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, an organization that advocates for fair representation in court for abused or neglected children.
Cassidy is a senior on the Stanford Women’s Water polo team. She is a human biology major, concentrating in global health and international law. This past summer, Cassidy was a participant in ACE in India. She was one of three members who volunteered at SPYM, the Society for Promotion of Youth and the Masses. Working at SPYM was the highlight of her ACE experience. She was able to see firsthand how NGOs in developing countries run, something she has learned about in the classroom through her global health classes.
Want to hear more about Cassidy’s ACE experience? Contact Cassidy.
Dear Future #ACEathletes,
- Best advice for learning about ACE: It was easy choosing a program for me. India is the only program that fits with my water polo schedule. But the description of what you will be doing in country is also very helpful.
- Best advice for applying for ACE: I would talk to previous participants about the different programs to ensure you are qualified and ready to go on ACE if accepted.
- Best advice for getting started at your program: The first days are very overwhelming but fun at the same time. The most important thing to remember is that everyone is nervous and everyone is experiencing things for the first time together.
- Tips for training: Be ready to be flexible. It may take a couple of days to get everything settled with the gyms/pools. Take those first days to get acclimated to the new country.
- Tips for bringing ACE back to your team: On my team we give updates and powerpoint presentations throughout the year. I plan to make one of my presentations about my time in India and encourage others to apply.
- Reasons for staying involved in ACE: I am grateful that I was selected to be a part of the program. It was a perfect opportunity to go abroad but not have to worry about access to training facilities.