VJCL Fall Forum 2017
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Inside VA SPirit with Robert Kim
Winning overall spirit at NJCL Convention didn’t happen without a lot of hard work. I came up with my first ideas for the March Executive Council meeting, and if I remember correctly, not even one of those was used for our final product. Thankfully, we have a multitude of creative minds, those of both students and sponsors. Getting to the final product was a long process of asking for new ideas and criticism. I didn’t even finalize some of the props until before the last Spirit Castra.
It was amazing to see so many VJCLers come to the Spirit Castra—it warmed my heart to see how many people were willing to spend their time so that Virginia Spirit might succeed. We got so much done in just three days! Thank you so much to Riverbend High School, Thomas Jefferson High School (Go Colonials!), and Flint Hill School for hosting Spirit Castra!
There still were props to be made in the last days before convention, so my family stayed up to make props with me. We still didn’t finish, so I had to take materials with me to convention. I cannot even express how grateful I am to Emily, Henna, and Hannah from TJ, and Adam from Falls Church for helping me out with spirit props. You all sacrificed so much time and energy. Adam took naps on my bed because both the floor and his bed were covered with spirit props.
I remember going over cheers for the first time during fellowship. My knees were weak, arms were heavy, and to add to the anxiety, I was sick for a few days already, so my throat was sore. Despite all this, it went much better than expected. For this I have to thank all of the experienced VJCLers who helped teach the “old” cheers to our first-time convention goers. It wasn’t hard to teach new cheers because everyone followed instructions and helped each other.
Spirit was amazing to witness. There was 100 percent participation, and 200 percent enthusiasm. By the fourth day of spirit, everyone’s voices were gone, but we persevered. I could see people sweating, not because Troy was hot as Hades, but because of the physical exercise everyone went through. Allegedly we scored the most points every day, which no one saw coming.
Spirit was amazing to witness. There was 100 percent participation, and 200 percent enthusiasm. By the fourth day of spirit, everyone’s voices were gone, but we persevered. I could see people sweating, not because Troy was hot as Hades, but because of the physical exercise everyone went through. Allegedly we scored the most points every day, which no one saw coming.
This would not have been possible without a number of people. I can’t possibly name you all, but I will try. Thank you to Hannah Kim and Elizabeth Li for drawing the Troy Story and Starry Night t-shirts! I can’t imagine life without a Spirit and Service committee. Thank you to all the JCLers who came out to Spirit Castra who didn’t even come to convention. Thank you to Kristin Myers for writing spirit cheer posters with her “lettering,” or as I like to call it, sharpie calligraphy. Thank you to Trini Kechkian for her support and for being so approachable. Thank you to Lucas DuMez for his mentorship and support. Thank you to Adam Ashley and Tony Elar for their incredible support throughout this whole process. Thank you to all the co-chairs, who have been supportive all the way, from the March meeting “ideas” to the final Troy Story shirt. Thank you to my fellow officers for all of your support and dedication. I don’t know what I would have done without you all. And of course, thank you and congratulations to the Virginia delegation! Let’s do it again next year!
-Robert Kim, 2nd Vice President