Writing Sample for Youth: Jared Learns About Time Management March 20, 2006

        During the week Jared spent his afternoons at the Enrichment Community Center and participated in various activities until his mother picked him up after work. He was aware that her shift ended at 5:30pm and that she would arrive soon; but at a quarter past 6pm his mother, who had been waiting for Jared in the car, decided to go inside and look for him.  

Ms. Thompson was visibly tired and a bit displeased because she’d already indicated what time Jared should be ready to leave. She’d explained to him that they should get home from the center at a reasonable time so that she can prepare dinner.

        She walked into the center and looked around; the onsite counselor, noticing that Ms. Thompson was a parent, walked over. “You must be Jared’s mother! I could tell from the resemblance!” She nodded, “Will you please tell me where I can find him?” The counselor responded with a warm smile and ushered Ms. Thompson to the lab where Jared was engrossed at a computer. “He’s so dedicated that we designated this workstation specifically for Jared to use whenever he’s at the center!” Jared looked up surprised, and a little embarrassed that he was unaware of the time, and that his mother had to come in to find him. “Uh oh… HI MOM!!”  

    “Do you know what time it is?”

    “I know Mom, I’m sorry. I got caught up in this chess match!”

    “I waited fifteen minutes for you to come out, and you’re playing a game?! Jared, I’m tired. We need to go!”

    “But mom, please… Can I finish this one game!? I think I’m on to something!” Noticing his mother’s stern disposition he quickly added, “And if I can figure out this particular technique it’ll really improve my strategy… and help me when I play against Uncle in the park next Saturday!! I really want to show him that I can keep up!”

        Noticing the uncompromising look on her face, the counselor chimed in, “You know, Ms. Thompson, Jared has been telling us about the chess competition in Fulton Park for quite some time now. It’s all he talks about when he comes into the center”, he laughed. “Jared’s very excited about developing his techniques and our lab technician, Jorge, has been showing him how to study strategies online at a website called ‘Chess Prep’!”  

“Yeah, Mom!” Jared exclaimed. “Jorge started playing chess at my age and says I could become a real champion if I study these strategies! Come’re, let me show you the website!”

Ms. Thompson gave her son a familiar look that said, “I’m tired, we need to go!”, but she admired how passionately her son studied his hobby. She understood how developing his skills would allow him to become a great player and would also cultivate his ability to think critically, which is something she’s always admired about his uncle. “Alright Jay, show me this website?”

Knowing that his mom wasn’t as computer savvy as he was, Jared described to his mother how he was able to learn different strategies for playing chess against the computer and against his uncle. He was very excited to share what he’d learned with his mother, and she was proud of her son’s dedication to becoming a better player.

“See, mom, this is why I lost track of time! I want to get better so I can really compete against Uncle!”  

“Jared, I’m happy to see that you are learning and developing your chess skills. And quite honestly, I’m pleased that you are this dedicated. But son, you also have to be responsible with time management and recognize when it’s time to focus on chess and when it’s not. I waited in the car for you to come out on time, and if I hadn’t come in to find you, who knows how long I would’ve been waiting!” She laughed.

Collecting his belongings, Jared replied, “You’re right, mom. I knew you’d be here at 6:30, and next time I’ll definitely be ready!” She wrapped her arms around him, “Now that’s what I like to here!”

The History of Double Dutch March 20, 2006

Jumping rope began with ancient rope makers who jumped over ropes as they were winding them together. This jumping exercise eventually became a game sport when Dutch settlers brought it to New York City in the early 1600’s. Traditionally, there was basic jumping with one rope, with also a more difficult version for higher skilled jumpers. In the difficult style, a person skips over two ropes by stepping, jumping and turning to the best of their ability. This trickier style is called Double Dutch and is a mixture of culture and athletics, play and performance for all participants.

In Double Dutch two ropes are spun in opposite directions by a person at either end. Jumping in teams, each group generally has four jumpers, almost always girls. They jump between the spinning ropes simultaneously. The soft ropes are about 12 to 14 feet long and one-half inch in diameter. The jumpers often recite rhymes like, “I went downtown to see Charlie Brown/ He gave me a nickel to buy a pickle/ the pickle was sour, he gave me a flower/ the flower was dead, and guess what he said…!” Variations of these rhymes have become known around the world and remain a major part of the neighborhood jumping experience today.

In 1973 David A. Walker was a detective in New York City. He and his partner, Detective Ulysses Williams, worked with physical education instructors to think of rules that would transform the game of Double Dutch into a competitive sport. There were many reasons why they decided to develop Double Dutch into the World Class Sport it is today. For starters, they knew young children, girls especially, would excel in the sport. The detectives also wanted to help neighborhood children focus their attention on a positive activity. Many community clubs provide Double Dutch teams for elementary and middle school girls to join and it remains popular with schoolchildren as well.

On February 14, 1974, the first Double Dutch tournament was held with nearly six hundred fifth, sixth, seventh and eight graders participating. Since that first tournament, competitions have expanded with citywide and national championships. Nearly 100,000 girls and boys from schools and community centers around the world compete at the different events. At these contests, double Dutch jumpers perform all sorts of athletic feats—such as handstands and flips—while between the ropes. Mr. Walker is now the president and founder of the National Double Dutch League. In this league hundreds attend trainings to improve their jumping skill. The NDDL hosts “The Double Dutch Training and Tournament Camp” in Florida during the summer, and anyone aged 8 or older can participate. This is the nation’s only Double Dutch camp for coaches, teams and individuals who want to learn more about the sport.

Held on the campus of Saint Leo University, the four day camp hosts workshops led by the leaders in the Double Dutch sport. A typical camp day begins with breakfast at 7am. A thirty minute warm-up stretch helps participants get their bodies ready for a long day of activity. After warming up, participants go through performance drills for three hours to increase fitness. From noon until 2pm attendees eat lunch and rest from the demanding morning. After the rest period, freestyle training, classroom talks, lectures, and demonstrations are given until five o’clock. By this time participants are ready for another break. Dinner is served later in the evening and lights are out by 10:30pm, to guarantee that all are well rested for the next day. When morning comes, they do it all again! All are welcomed to attend and encouraged to start their own Double Dutch team once they return home if they are not already a part of one.