Rose Rees Peace Awards
On April 29th I had the great pleasure to participate in the Rose Rees Peace Awards as the keynote speaker. The Rose Rees Peace Award is given annually by the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) – Minneapolis Section to one senior from each participating high school, in the greater Minneapolis area, who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to international understanding and world peace. This award was established in 1935 as a living memorial to Mrs. Rose Rees, who served as President of NCJW and was a founder and presiding officer of the World Affairs Council of Minneapolis. I had the privilege to speak to 20 of the most inspiring young people I have ever encountered. After I finished my message, each one of the recipients came to the podium and briefly explained what peace meant to them and what their plans were for the future. Every single student was astonishing and, I am certain, going to make this world a better place. To hear those kids speak was one of the most humbling and wonderful experiences of my life. It truly was an honor to be part of such an amazing program. Below is, more or less, the speech I gave to the students. I thought I would share it with all of you.
I hope that wherever you may be spring has sprung!
Warmly,
Kaylin
My speech:
Our world right now is undoubtably in a state of turmoil. Many are worried about the future, economically, enviromentally, socially, and rightfully so. We, speaking for the human race, need to tighten up our program, make some changes. It sometimes seems that the fate of our rainforests have taken a back seat to MTV and that the golden rule, treat others the way that you would like to be treated, is a thing of the past. You are probably thinking, “great- an uplifting speaker, maybe she can make a reference to the recession and kick us in the shins while she is at it.” That is not my intention. This is a message of hope. After reading about this award and some of its recipients it reminded me not to let my cynical side get the best of me. It reminded me that there are still so many that believe as I do- that we are not only responsible for the world we live in, but the way we leave it. there is much to be done, but looking out at all of you gives me such hope. And the wonderful thing about hope is it is extremely contagious. If this is a sample of the next generation then we have a bright future to look forward to; peace is possible
I don’t feel like I am much different than you. Sure, I have a few more years experience under my belt, but, unfortunately, much that you don’t understand at 17 or 18 you have no better grasp of at 24. I speak to you as a contemporary, maybe even more appropriately, a kindred spirit. There is such diversity in this room: different interests, different strengths, but you all have something in common and that is why you are being honored today. You have set yourselves apart because you don’t consider peace a static, obsolete ideal; it is an everyday occurrence. All of us are unique and equipped with individual tools to better the world. Trying to measure your addition is completely arbitrary because a grand gesture in one’s eyes can be nothing of value to another. The complexities of this life create some of the greatest pleasures and greatest frustrations depending on the scenario. But, that my friends is another speech entirely.
I am a ski racer. I have been on the National Team for nine years. I compete at the World Cup level which consists of the best female racers on our planet. The life of a professional athlete as you can imagine tends to be a very self involved existence. Every day I get up and do what I need to do for me to succeed. How I need to train, what I need to eat, you get the idea. It was a constant struggle, especially in the beginning. I always was second guessing my ability to give back. Then, about six years ago, when I was about your age, I met a little girl in my hometown that recognized me. Before I go any further let me preface that the ski racing world is it’s own little microcosm; it is not very often that you come across someone outside the alpine community that is familiar with it. However, this little girl looked up at my with her shiny blue eyes in admiration. At that moment, it dawned on me that through my success in ski racing I had gained, an albeit small, influence over kids that looked up to me. It all began with that little girl murmuring, “Are you Kaylin richardson?” which first of all melted my heart and second of all exhibited that because of my small celebrity I could reach out to kids and affect them in a positive way. My main aim has become establishing young athlete’s self worth by reminding them it is the person they are and how they treat others that define them, not the amount of trophies or lack there of that they bring home. The power to bolster a child’s confidence is no small thing; it can have a ripple effect of good that is hard believe.
No one ever said that leading by example is easy, but with being a role model, it comes with the territory. To the contrary,I think, it can be pretty tough. People begin looking to you for answers and suddenly, there are expectations you, yourself, never set, and obligations you never signed up for. Time to rise to the occasion! Every one of you is familiar with this or you wouldn’t be here. I had the great honor of representing the United States of America in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. I competed in the alpine combined event which consists of one run of DH an event that I have been clocked going 83 mph, and two runs of slalom- the event on the other side of the spectrum, less speed but more quickness. It was truly an amazing exerience. Walking into the opening ceremonies can only be described as surreal. It had been a goal since I was young to compete in the games and I had a ball. I met as many people as I could and tried to take in everything. Of course, I was there to compete and I did with zest. I was not the fastest, but not the slowest either. Journalists from all over the world would be waiting outside the finish corral and I think that I confused them. After finishing a run I was jubilant and it dumbfounded the reporters. They would ask me, “You seem so happy, yet you are not in medal contention?” I would reply, “You are missing the point. This is the pinnacle of sport. Every person competing here has made personal sacrifices and has amazing stories- we should be celebrating that. I think it is too bad that especially in the US we get so caught up in the medal count. While you are all estimating who the winner you are missing the most vital part of all- the athlete’s spirit.” I was quoted in some newspapers and magazine around the country and although I did not come home after the games with something shiny around my neck, I did come home with a 17th place and the pride of being true to myself.
When I was preparing my remarks to give to such a remarkable group of individuals I figured, since it is The Rose Rees Peace Awards, I should know the exact definition of peace. With high hopes I found the dictionary and to my slight disappointment this is what I found: Peace: 1.freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility 2.freedom from or the cessation of war, violence, or social disorder. 3. freedom from dispute or dicension between individuals or groups. Hmm, now I don’t mean to be a nitpicker, but I have a real problem with that definition. Freedom is a noble ideal, but when I think of peace I instantly think of love. It is not possible to have one without the other, sort of like the chicken before the egg conundrum. What comes first love or peace? The answer is they are inextricably connected. If I personally were to define peace it would go something like this: Peace- the state at which love is paramount. in laymens terms- peace is when love is the main objective.
I have had the opportunity, through racing, to travel many places, meet and befriend many people. Skiing was my ticket to the Czech Republic, Argentina, Italy, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Chile, and Switzerland to name a few. The thing that continues to strike me time and time again on my travels is how alike we all are. Yes, our cultures differ, our local tastes and traditions differ, maybe even the way we display our emotions differ, but, under all the exterior, we laugh the same, we mourn the same, we hope the same, we fear the same, and most importantly we love the same. For many, many people that concept is hard to comprehend which saddens me. To be ignorant and insular are maybe the most powerful enemies of peace out there. On the other hand open- mindedness and patience are peace and love’s warriors.
Ski racing has become my vehicle to love others, to spread peace. My success has given me privileges that allow me to speak and be heard. I am a good ski racer and I may be remembered by a handful of people for that, but what I hope is that I influenced people in a positive way, ultimately, through love. Now, I know this sounds silly, but I want you to ask yourself, “What is my vehicle to love others?” What is that thing that you enjoy above all else, that you excel at? Maybe you are an amazing photographer and get to travel around the world taking snapshots that alert people to poverty. Maybe you have the skills to be a phenomenal businessman which makes you wealthy enough to finance a phenomenal charity. Maybe you are a natural nurturer and were just meant to make people feel welcomed and loved. It doesn’t matter what your personal strength is; it’s about finding a way to use it to give back. You have the potential to be great at it and contribute to peace through it.
I cannot convey to you all how vital this is. Every step in the process is equally important; no cause too small, no person too insignificant. Lastly, I am going to fill you in on a glorious secret. Those of you that already know what your vehicle is can back me up. Once you find that niche, that place in the world that you fit, doing what you were made to do, you will feel so wonderfully fulfilled- dare I say it- at peace. And what better way to spread peace than by starting in your own heart.