As I am reflecting back on my ACE experience, I am getting emotional thinking about my time working in these townships and all the special people I got to bond with along the way. There is something so incredible about the pure joy every single kid we got to work with emitted when we saw them. These townships showed us such grace and kindness by letting us come and work with their community.
Something I have always lived by is the phrase: “Always be a kind person. Not just a nice person.” This is what my dad would always tell me, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I try to embody this daily, but during these three weeks in South Africa, I saw that idea reflected back to me from the coaches, the mentors, the kids, and the leaders of the VUSA program. Going to a new place with new people, I had no idea what to expect. But as soon as I stepped onto the Langa soil, we were welcomed with open arms, huge smiles, and contagious excitement. That is something I will never forget.
One specific moment that captured so much kindness and connection was when we played rugby with the older kids at VUSA. Most of us had no clue what we were doing, but that didn’t matter. The kids loved teaching us. One afternoon, I was talking to one of the leaders we worked with in a different township with a different organization (SEEDS trust), and she was telling me how important it is for the kids to practice their leadership skills and to be able to show us what they know. This was shown through this game of rugby. Any time I had a question, they jumped in eagerly, showing me the rules or guiding me through the plays. Their joy was so pure, their patience so generous. And they were SOOO talented. You could see their passion and pride in the way they moved, and it was such a privilege to be on the receiving end of their knowledge. The fact that we were learning from them, that they were the ones guiding us, was humbling and important. They weren’t just participants, they were leaders.
There was another moment that will stay with me forever. On our last day with VUSA, we were having a dance party, and a few of the girls were choosing the music. One of the older girls, who is like the older sister of all the kids at VUSA, started playing a worship song that I recognized immediately, the exact song is played at my church back a school. I started to sing along with all the girls, and they were shocked that I knew this song. One girl said to me, “How do you know our church song?” This made me think… Wow, here we were, worlds apart in so many ways, yet somehow completely connected through faith and music. It was such a grounding moment. It reminded me that no matter how different our backgrounds may seem, we share something deep and real. That invisible thread of belief and spirit tied us together in the most unexpected but beautiful way.
And then, came the goodbyes.
I thought I was prepared for them. I wasn’t.
Throughout my three weeks in Langa, I developed a deep bond with two boys and two girls at VUSA. These kids left an impression on me that will last forever. What these kids taught me, I will take with me throughout the rest of my life, my career, and my athletics. Since I have been home, I often find myself wondering what they are doing every day, I find myself missing their smiles, or wondering if they remember our time together. Despite the many challenges they face, they would come running to the van as I stepped out to greet me with a big hug each day with resilience, happiness, and joy. Watching some of the children cry as we gave our hugs goodbye broke my heart. It was so emotional to see the impact our time together had made on them, and on us. The kids weren’t just sad to see us go; they felt it, just like we did. Their tears showed me that our presence, however brief, had meant something. And in those moments, when the coaches and leaders spoke to us with such warmth and gratitude, telling us how much they appreciated our help, our energy, and our kindness, I felt this overwhelming rush of joy and purpose. Their words meant the world. It made me realize how powerful even small acts of service can be when they come from a place of love. As I think about these kids, it has built my motivation to support more organizations like GVI, VUSA, and SEEDS Trust, whose missions are to uplift their communities.
These three weeks taught me that kindness isn’t just about what you give; it is also about how you show up. It’s about listening, learning, sharing, and embracing others with an open heart. I’ll carry the lessons from this experience and from these people with me always, and I know this won’t be the last time I serve, connect, and grow in this way.
To the kids, the coaches, and the communities, thank you for reminding me that kindness really does go a long way.