This is part of a series highlighting recent ACE participants who are finding meaningful ways to connect and build on their ACE experience beyond their three-week ACE summer program. After student-athlete participants complete their ACE summer, they are encouraged to think about a specific goal that connects their ACE experience to their life in a meaningful way. ACE staff support this process through the development of a personal ACE Action Plan and 1-1 coaching, group meetings, and check-ins throughout the year. Learn more about the ACE Plan Process and other ways ACE student-athletes are supported post-experience.
Chris Theodore, a senior on the Duke Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field Team and alum of the 2021 ACE in Place Vietnam program, was inspired by Coach for College, the community partner in Vietnam. As a result, he has continued to foster community partnerships back here in Durham.
“My action plan was to get involved with community service at home here in Durham. I felt my team was lacking in community service activities and so I thought it was a good opportunity to get involved in the local Durham community, help out and get involved with organizations, and partner and work together. This definitely connects with my ACE in Place experience. Through ACE in Place Vietnam, we worked with Coach for College and I realized that finding a community partner like that can make such a big difference in impacting people’s lives.”
Specifically, Chris is working with teammates Michaela Reinhart (a fellow ACE alum) and Hannah Kelly on a community service project for the Track & Field team. He is trying to partner the team with a department of the Duke Children’s Hospital and develop a program that would connect Duke Track & Field fans and donors with the hospital. Theoretically, fans and donors that want to participate would pledge a certain amount of money per point scored by the team at home and conference meets throughout the season. The money pledged would go to the aforementioned department of Duke Children’s Hospital.
“Through ACE in Place Vietnam, we worked with Coach for College and I realized that finding a community partner like that can make such a big difference in impacting people’s lives.”
– Chris Theodore, ACE in Place Vietnam 2021
Details are still being hashed out, and Theodore explains, “The Action Plan got off to a slower start than I hoped for especially adjusting back to school in the fall. It was a challenge trying to stay on top of it. Having meetings with ACE staff to get myself refocused and get my eyes set towards my goal was the biggest thing that helped me move forward. Now I feel like I’m in a good spot working with my teammates, Michaela and Hannah.”
Theodore comments on the inspiration for this Action Plan, saying he wanted to focus on something team-oriented. “I just wanted to emphasize our own team’s values: a family unit working together towards a common goal.”
Not all of these aspirations have been without struggles. Time restraints and staying focused on the end goal have both been difficult. “Being a student-athlete is already so demanding, so really just trying to refocus myself and stay present and grounded in what I’m doing is going to be the most important thing to keep doing.”
Theodore is excited for the final product, however, and knows it will be very rewarding once the program is up and running. He also does not plan on stopping here.
“Doing ACE provides that stepping stone for you to actually get yourself involved. Going through this whole process – typing out your thoughts, actually putting your words into action, is something that you’re going to keep using as you go forward in life beyond ACE itself.”
– Chris Theodore, ACE in Place Vietnam 2021
“I feel like putting an end on the Action Plan is kind of limiting – in the sense that ACE, in and of itself, it’s not something you just do for 3 weeks and then it’s over. In the same sense, the Action Plan – you can’t just do it once and say it’s over. Hopefully it continues in life in general – I hope the Action Plan is just a stepping stone to keep fueling more things that I do in my life. I want to keep devoting myself to service.”
The Action Plan process has already impacted Theodore to some extent: by giving him a method by which to continue dedicating himself to service.
“I think service and civic engagement can be a daunting task to do, and doing ACE provides that stepping stone for you to actually get yourself involved. Going through this whole process – typing out your thoughts, actually putting your words into action, is something that you’re going to keep using as you go forward in life beyond ACE itself.”
“I just wanted to emphasize our own team’s values: a family unit working together towards a common goal.”
– Chris Theodore, ACE in Place Vietnam 2021
Theodore offers advice for other students trying to incorporate civic engagement into their lives. “As you set your own goals for your sport, academics, whatever it is you are doing – this is just another goal you can set. And the sky’s the limit. You can make as big of an impact as you want and one positive action could create a chain reaction throughout your whole life.”
“Eventually you’ll see all your hard work and effort comes into a great, fulfilling experience. So just keep going for it.”
Theodore himself will continue going for it, as well as inspiring others around him to do so. We can all be going for good. Together.