Week Eleven: "Shooting Beauty" & Group Projects

    Last week in class we had an amazing guest. Her name is Courtney Bent and she is the creator of the "Shooting Beauty" project.  This project involves the creation of adapted camera equipment accessible for individuals with disabilities.  I was in awe listening to Courtney talk about her life journey.  I thought it was incredible that she became involved with people who have disabilities and connected her passion of photography to ultimately have her dream career.  She shared with us the story and many pictures.  I really liked how she discovered the importance of giving individuals with disabilities freedom and independence. I think this is one of the most important messages.  I was in disbelief at her ability to assess individuals and come up with adaptive equipment for them to use the camera on their own.  My favorites were the man who controlled his wheelchair with his tongue and the man who was able to take pictures by squeezing a button between his knees.  I found myself deeply inspired by not only her story but by her optimism and creativity.  In my future, I hope to be as innovative and creative as she is, or at least half as much. :) I loved how she was so interested in what we were doing as a class too! I will also keep in mind in my future to check around for pricing on equipment because she mentioned how she bought extendable arms from a film catalog for a lot cheaper than an adapted equipment catalog. I cannot wait to watch the film "Shooting Beauty"... what an amazing story. I am so happy that we had the chance to meet her and have her come in to talk to us for a little bit!


   We started the long leadership group presentations this week. The first group did a chalk art activity aimed for use with persons with HIV/AIDS.  I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this project! They read different prompts to us on what to draw. Some of the prompts included:
- drawing a shape of how you feel
- draw three things you did today
- draw what makes you sad
-draw what motivates you
-draw what people see you as
-draw what you want others to see you as
- write a message to someone you haven't talk to or seen in awhile


I thought this simple chalk art activity was very therapeutic. I found myself hesitant to draw what was making me sad, but once I did I felt a release from within.  I also loved sharing with others about what I drew and seeing and hearing about what they drew.  I think this is a GREAT activity for many populations.  I think it would work great for the target population of HIV/AIDS because it is a release of feelings and has the option of group share along with the ability for only the individual to know what they drew. I really liked how this simple activity turned out to have a deeper meaning and good group discussion.  I think it could also be used with markers or other art utensils if the weather was bad or it was winter.


   The second group presentation involved team integrative games.  We played a number of "New Games".  These are cooperative team games. One of the games we played was called "people to people".  This game involved partners within a group.  They would call out two body parts, for example, elbow to forehead. Partners would have to perform this action (one body part each).  When they said "people to people" you had to switch partners.  I think this game would work great for kids.  We played a team game involving keeping a ball in the air. I think this would work great for a group of individuals with  disabilities because it challenges them to learn about taking turns and also working towards a common goal as a team.  I think that they would have fun with it. We played a team train tag-on game as well along with a circle "duck duck goose" type of game. These were both fun and very active. I think these games would work great with kids as well.  I really enjoyed all of the games! I plan on definitely using "New Games" in my future professionally and also for summer camps.


  This class period was full of fun, as always.  I really enjoyed the variety of things that we did in this class period. In my future, I hope to use the chalk art activity or a variation of it along with the New Games. I am inspired by individuals like Courtney Bent. She gave us the advice of "going after what you want and do something you love."  I thought that was amazing advice. Ultimately, I hope someday to create something new for adaptations for individuals with disabilities and just want to do something I love. I think my number one goal in life is to love what I do. If it involves touching the life of someone else, I know I will love it.


  I actively participated with enthusiasm throughout this class.  I also gave feedback for both groups on their projects/presentations. I stayed after to hoop again! It was so much fun! :)


  I love learning from others and found myself very happy and inspired after this class. 


I am so excited to keep learning about new activities and recreation.  I only declared my TR major this year and couldn't be any happier. I think I found my calling in life, or at least somewhere to start. :) Ah, life is so good.