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Lia Selander

P. Gardner

Voluptuous rat tacos

3 May 2023

Appreciate the Grind

Dear Brighton High School administration,

Being a successful student athlete here at Brighton and a team captain of cross

country and track I see the importance that all the athletes play and contribute to the sport.

Being a good team member is more than just being good at your sport, it is good

attendance, showing up in school and creating a fun and welcoming environment in all

aspects of your sport. Being a good athlete is showing work and progress in your sport even

if you are not the best one or stand out as one of the top performers. I think it is important

for student athletes of all sports to feel recognized and important at Brighton high school

because it builds Brightons athletic reputation and makes students want to work harder

and get better at their sport. Building a reputation for different sports also builds a better

community and support surrounding each team. In an interview with Coach Wilson, the

Athletic Director here at Brighton high school he agrees that “showcasing athletes is a way

to motivate students to want to improve and get better at their sport”(Wilson, Garrett).

Coach Wilson's remarks explain how acknowledging students for their hard work and

performance in school and in their sport can motivate them to get better and improve.

The main thing that builds reputation for a sport is the environment and the people

that are involved in the sport. By showcasing athletes from several different sports we can

begin to further build brightons sport reputation for all sports and not just the most
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popular ones. In a google survey taken by student athletes at Brighton, a few said that

recognizing student athletes accomplishments “creates a culture of winning” and that

“highlighting exemplary performances can increase school spirit”(Selander, Lia). Just this

small piece of evidence shows how acknowledging athletes' accomplishments could

improve the culture here at Brighton high school. I believe with the help of the school

administration, a big change could be made in how athletes are showcased and displayed.

Baya Rasmussen, just a freshman here at Brighton high school says that she joined the

sports that she did because of the reputation that they had and also her love for the sport.

She said that she decided to join track because of the fun environment and all the nice and

encouraging people on the team(Rasmussen, Baya). Her reasons for joining the sport are

not too far off of what got other student athletes into their sports. Showing off student

athletes and their team would be a great way to build appreciation for each sport and get

other students to join. Featuring a student athlete of the month and an athlete of the year

would improve the culture of sports at Brighton and encourage students to support each

other no matter the sport.

Works cited

Wilson, Garrett. Interview. 28 April. 2023.

Rasmussen. Baya. Interview. 27 April. 2023.

Selander, Lia. Brighton’s sports recognition survey. Salt lake city, Utah: Brighton High

School. 22 April. 2023