“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” —Buckminster Fuller
Every month, First Tee will highlight a monthly theme which First Tee – Monterey County will incorporate into its programming, blogs, and social media. We are excited to align ourselves with the Home Office’s initiative: January’s theme is adaptability.
In today’s environment, adaptability is a top success factor. Now more than ever lies an intense demand for us to act quickly and decisively in the face of change. First Tee — Monterey County’s newest Golf & Life Skills Coach, Thomas T., is an example of just that.
When we first met Thomas, the future he had planned for himself was starting to shift. Thomas was scared, uncomfortable, and unsure, yet he embraced complete and transparent adaptability amidst it all.
“I came from a career where I had to teach myself everything I know. After my injury, the future I planned for was drifting away. With the supportive culture at First Tee — Monterey County, I have found the confidence and perseverance I thought I had lost. It’s amazing how effective a welcoming environment and our participants’ smiles can be to physical, mental, and emotional recovery.”
Thomas never let challenges stop him, and he credits the programs for pushing him outside of his comfort zone and testing his adaptability every day. Thomas adds, “When you work in an environment where we teach kids from as young as seven years old and interact with adults & volunteers, it’s second-nature to exercise adaptability.”
Whether we are about to start at a new school, a new job, or wrap up a massive chapter of our lives, change may feel like the new normal. It is up to us to be ready to adapt our policies and our mindsets to ensure continued growth and success like Thomas has. Having techniques can help us effectively deal with changes and become comfortable with our new normal. Our program implements a method called S.T.A.R. to encourage our participants to be confident while persevering through challenges and changes on the course and in our daily lives.
When was the latest time you experienced a change from your daily routine? Apply these four steps to the situation and develop new insights while navigating through the situation.
S.T.A.R.
Stop: This is where you pause and give your mind a break. Take a breath. What are things that help you calm down?
Think: Consider your choices. What are some of the options you have in this situation? Think of it from all angles.
Anticipate: This means to look ahead. What could happen (good or bad) due to each choice? Think about how each consequence will affect your ability to reach your goals.
Respond: Select the best choice of what to do. Each person’s “best choice” may be different from the next. The best option is the one that helps you progress to your goal while maintaining your values.
Like our participants, what makes our chapters so special is that each one is unique in its own way. We celebrate their diverse perspectives because it makes our work even more powerful. Yet one thing that remains consistent at every chapter is their passion for supporting the next generation and the communities they live in.
One way our chapters are doing this is by creating a space that makes every individual feel like they belong. A culture of acceptance is deeply rooted in our values as an organization as we seek to understand walks of life that are different from our own.
Two of our chapters, First Tee — Greater Pasadena and First Tee — Korea, have brought this to life in a meaningful new way. In 2019, the two chapters became official sister chapters in an effort for participants to share cultural experiences and explore opportunities beyond their community.
Recently, participants and coaches from the two chapters were able to meet virtually to discuss a trending topic in communities across the globe: returning to school during a pandemic.
During the video call, participants shared how they’re feeling and handling the return to school.
Gloria from First Tee — Korea shared, “I think I should take responsibility for myself because if I don’t follow the rules, I could put my friends and family at risk.”
Through the meeting, the participants realized that they have quite a bit in common despite growing up thousands of miles apart. They’re all adjusting to the “new normal,” and are leaning on the character strengths they’ve developed through First Tee to help conquer these challenges.
Bob Baderian, Executive Director for First Tee — Greater Pasadena, summed up the experience:
“This very positive partnership between First Tee — Greater Pasadena and First Tee — Korea encourages participants to share their experiences and perspectives and provides opportunities to educate them about the culture and history of their respective countries and communities. These meetings have resulted in increased knowledge and appreciation of cultures and lifestyles between our two chapters.”
Founded in 2006, First Tee — Greater Pasadena has served more than 200,000 kids and teens. First Tee — Korea was founded in conjunction with the 2015 Presidents Cup and is one of six international chapters within the First Tee network.
The sister chapters have a goal to one day provide an in-person experience for their participants to meet.
This pandemic, among other challenges this year, has been more than we could have ever anticipated. It’s stories like these, of coming together to learn, appreciate, and build relationships, that inspire us as we work to empower youth to be game-changers and make this a better world.
