“ACE provides the amazing opportunity to engage with different communities and cultures and to serve them while challenging me to grow as an individual as well. ACE will give me leadership and teamwork skills that I can bring back to my own team and the Duke community.”
Jameson Kavel’s past experience with service includes two mission trips to Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic as well as tutoring elementary school children as part of a Duke service-learning course. She also is a part of Athletes in Action, a faith-based group on campus. With the Duke Softball team, Jameson has participated in various volunteer opportunities, including helping with the Boys and Girls Club, cleaning up local parks, and visiting nursing homes.
Jameson is a junior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Psychology while receiving a Markets and Management Certificate. She is involved in Duke Athletics, showing her commitment through participation in Athletes in Action. In Cape Town, Jameson developed close relationships with the other ACE team members while having fun coaching and teaching the students and community members in Zola. She hopes to use her newfound perspectives to further her own community engagement and build on her experiences in South Africa. She plans to get involved in a local organization and teach children sports and healthy lifestyles and become an ACE ambassador to help future participants have the most impactful experience as possible.
Want to hear more about Jameson’s ACE experience? Contact Jameson.
Dear Future #ACEathletes,
- Best advice for learning about ACE: I would recommend talking to someone (either an Ambassador or just someone you know who went) from each program so you get the full perspective on each trip.
- Best advice for getting started at your program: I would take the time in the first few days to really get to know everyone on your team, so that you can be a strong team, leave the best impact, and have the most meaningful experience.
- Tips for getting to know your community: We really took the time to ask the community members all kinda of questions, while also answering all of their questions. This way we both got to learn about another culture and community.
- Tips for training: It was really cool to train with all of the other student-athletes and get to try different workouts and exercises. We had two hours of gym time every day built into the schedule, so it was pretty easy to manage and do what you needed to do.
- Tips for bringing ACE back to your team: South Africa changed my attitude and how I approach my sport and my teammates. I now truly recognize the great opportunity I have and am truly grateful of all that Duke has to offer.
- Reasons for staying involved in ACE: I wanted to stay involved in the ACE program to help and see others have similar experiences that I got to have. I really believe in this program’s ability to develop engagement and new perspectives, and I want to continue to be apart of that.