Our Teens

Student Profile #1:  David

David is an 18-year-old young man from El Salvador, the next to youngest of 12 children. When he first came to this country at age 11, he along with five of his brothers and sisters and his mother and father, lived in a one-room basement apartment in DC. “We had to sleep sometimes on the floor. We got along with each other because we had to. Sometimes we’d fight; and sometimes we didn’t. It was the eight of us for five years. Then people started moving out.”

Moving from El Salvador to the U.S. was difficult for David. After 11 years, it remains so. David says in El Salvador, his life was more peaceful. He lived on a farm. People got along. In this country, he has a harder time fitting in. David’s dad works as a janitor in the building where he lives. His mother stays at home and cooks. He has an older brother Joel who works in a supermarket and is studying law in college. Joel moved out of the apartment a couple of months ago because his wife is having a baby. David had been close to his brother and looked up to him; but Joel’s very busy now and doesn’t have much time. David has another older brother who struggles with his life. Nobody knows where he lives. David worries about him.

David is in the eleventh grade at Wilson High School where academics have generally been difficult for him. He doesn’t have the best study habits; but he’s working on it. Sometimes it’s difficult to focus because he’s got a lot on his mind. He participates in JROTC where he was recently promoted to second lieutenant and works a part time job on weekends and sometimes after school.

Despite these difficulties, David stepped out of his comfort zone and joined Teens runDC this fall. Where he used to hate running, he now says it’s fun. “Running for me is like meditation. As I run, I think how I can improve myself. I never ran long distance before. My brother Joel used to run with me when I was small. He used to take me out. I liked that.” When not practicing with the team, David now runs on his own most days. He says “running is therapy for me; it helps me to plan out my life.”

David has participated in three races this year: the Great Pumpkin 5K in Reston; the MCM 10K in DC; and the Somerset Back to School Classic 8K in Chevy Chase. He finished 1st in the Somerset Classic 8K and 3rd in his age group in the Great Pumpkin 5K. During these races, David has been running 6:37 to 6:54 minute miles…an extremely impressive feat for a high school distance runner with little experience; especially for one who works 10 to 20 hours a week, is a second lieutenant in JROTC and is still working through a major culture transition.

Several weeks ago, David asked me to speak to his boss so that he might have permission to come later to work on Saturdays and train with our group. Outside of practice, he’s talked to me of his difficulties, seeking advice.

For this young man, participation in Teens runDC will make a difference to his life — not just in the training, discipline and inevitable victories, but in connecting with a more positive and embracing peer group and in developing relationships with adults who see him aside from his difficulties for the good kid that he is.

Student Profile #2:  Dagnechew

Dagnechew is a gentle and soft-spoken 16 year old, tenth grader at Wilson High School.  He came to this country 4 years ago with his sister.  Prior to leaving Ethiopia, he lived with his mother and aunt in a house his family owns there.  His mom is still in Ethiopia because she has had a hard time getting a visa.  In DC, he lives with his father in a two-bedroom apartment in Southwest.  He and his dad share a bedroom.

While he has not seen his mother these past four years, he and his sister each have “ten minutes of alone time” with her on the phone each week.  He values this time, but he doesn’t share too many of his concerns as he doesn’t want to worry her when she’s so far away.

When Dagnechew thinks about his own future, he says he wants to do something he likes.   He dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, but recognizes he needs a back up plan.  He’s thought about community college, but not too much.  He also has thought about the military and participates in Jr. ROTC.

Dagnechew first joined Teens Run DC because he thought it would make him faster.  When he understood that it was more about long distance training than training for speed, he liked the challenge of running 13 or maybe 26 miles.  This kept him motivated. Now he says he runs because it’s fun.  He says that when he starts his run or in the middle of a run, it can get really hard.  When he’s finished though, he just feels good.  He has accomplished something.  And he likes the people.  Some of his closet friends now in school and out are members of Teens Run DC.

Dagnechew has run in two races with Teens Run DC:  the Veteran’s Day 10K (November) and the Annapolis Striders Anniversary 15K (December).  In the first race, he ran easily with one of his teammates at a 13:44 pace.  It seems the company was more important than the competition.  In this last race, he ran with a faster teammate and maintained an 8:36 pace.  In our most recent practice, Dagnechew ran 12.5  miles well under the pace required to qualify for the marathon.  It is less an issue of capacity and more an issue of confidence.  Each step of the way, as he runs further each week, he sees more of what he is capable and hopefully will run his way to the full marathon.  Whichever race he chooses, he wins every day that he shows up for practice – quiet, ready to go, and able to see what he can accomplish.

Profile #3:  Meili

Meili is an 18 year old senior at Wilson who joined Teens Run DC a little late in the season.  In the fall, she participated in Wilson’s Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team.   Meili says that after the volleyball season ended, she wanted a new challenge – not just a physical challenge, but a mental challenge as well.  After hearing about our program, she thought that Teens Run DC would provide such an opportunity.  Running long distances would make her a stronger person.  As Meili started so late, she wisely set her sights on the half-marathon.

Meili was born in southern China and came to this country with her family when she was 13 years old.  It was difficult for her family when they first came here as they had to start their lives over.   Meili’s dad works as a chef in a Chinese restaurant.  He mom works in housekeeping at a downtown hotel.  In China, her father had a trucking business, and her mom was a stay-at-home mom.  Like many first generation children, Meili has had to help her parents navigate a world typically left to adults – opening bank accounts, paying bills, etc.   Her English is far better than theirs, and she has adapted more easily to American culture.   As she is an only child, the responsibility falls to her alone.  She says it’s not a burden and that she’s glad she can help.  Moreover (in an edit to this profile), she added that she has appreciated those setbacks as they have helped to make her braver.

Meili likes living in America.  She says there’s more freedom, and people are more open.  This past December, she obtained American citizenship.  Her parents have yet to apply although her mother is studying.

Meili is a very good student (GPA 3.5), works hard, but also likes to get together with her friends.  She knows a lot of people, but has a few close friends.  She has worked throughout her high school career to make money.  She has many interests – sports, photography, languages.  She already speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, and now studies Spanish, Italian, and American Sign Language.  She has thought of becoming a psychologist or school-teacher and has volunteered, tutoring at an elementary school and working with teens at both a community center and at her church.

Since coming to America, Meili has had to become very independent and self-reliant.  She is not as close to her parents as she used to be.  She feels as she has adjusted to living in DC, her parents don’t understand her so well.  She used to fight with her parents when she was 15 or 16.  Now, things are easier, mostly because she keeps things to herself.  She doesn’t expect a lot of support from them.  Part of her thinking about becoming a psychologist relates to wishing she could have talked to someone when she was struggling with her parents several years back.  On the positive side (Meili again adds in an edit), she realizes that these challenges have helped her to set her goals.

Meili would like to attend the University of Virginia.  She has already been accepted at a number of other colleges with scholarship funding.  This is not an easy topic for her to discuss. She feels it’s time for her to leave home and be on her own.  At the same time, she is fearful of how her parents will manage without her.  They would like her to stay close by.  She would like to go away.   As she talks about this topic, she gets teary-eyed.  It’s painful.  She has yet to find resolution.

In Teens Run DC, Meili is proud of her accomplishments, of the miles she has run.  She says she feels stronger.  Over the last weeks, however, the running has gotten tougher as we have run longer and farther and the weather has turned cold and snowy.  It can be discouraging.  Nonetheless, as we approach race day and with the support of mentors and peers, Meili is confident she can complete the half-marathon without injury.   Sometimes it’s painful; but then she reminds herself that there is nothing she can’t do if she believes in herself.