My fieldwork has not only benefitted the community, but myself as well. By contributing my time with these athletes, I have opened my eyes to a diverse community of people. These people have taught me to have a light heart. Also, they have shown me the true meaning of having a kind heart. The most valuable offering I believe that one can give to the Special Olympics is there time and an open heart. The athletes look forward to playing sports with their typically developing peers. Spending time in the given field site allows them to make friends with people who do not have disabilities. It also creates friendships that allow them to have a social connection with the outside world. Some athletes do not have this interaction with society on a daily basis because of the confines of their disability.
Through my mini-ethnography, I would like to shed light on a subculture that few people are involved with in America. Those with disabilities are typically avoided and sometimes looked down upon. Because this will one day be posted on the internet, I would like everyone who comes across it to have a deeper understanding of the culture. I want to teach people that there is nothing to fear. Discomfort may be typical but discomfort is not a reason to shy away from a new experience and meeting new people.
My contribution to my community is the attempt to treat all people equally and with fairness. Although I understand that no one can be completely removed from a situation, I would like to show my community that one person can create a better community just by having a good heart and living a respectable and honest life. I would also like to show the people I encounter that everything is going to be okay in the end. To quote my all-time favorite John Mayer song, "I know the heart of life is good." This is the impact that I would like to leave on the world.
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