A Letter from a 14-Year-Old Volunteer

Hello and Welcome, Everyone, to NorthStar!

My name is Johnson, and I’m proud to be one of the volunteers for the NorthStar Dragon Boat Team. I’m 14 years old, and today I’d like to share my journey—how I became a volunteer, the help I was able to give along the way, the incredible effort our coaches put in, and, most importantly, the trust, teamwork, and determination that made this season so special.

Before I begin, I want to express my deepest appreciation to NorthStar for giving me the opportunity to help others learn dragon boating while building amazing connections.

One person I especially want to thank is my coach, Coach Wei. He’s not only my high school dragon boat coach but also the coach for Northstar. Rain or shine, Coach Wei showed up to every practice to prepare us for our end-of-season race. Even when weather or other challenges disrupted our plans, he kept pushing us forward.

There’s one quote from Coach Wei that I’ll never forget:

“Today we are Strong. Tomorrow we are Stronger. Together we are Strongest.”

That message stuck with me. No matter what happens, if we give our best as a team, we will be the strongest—together. 🫡 Thank you so much, Coach Wei.

I also want to thank our NorthStar Director, Benny. While Coach Wei focused on our training, Benny managed everything else—especially designing our bright, powerful team jerseys. Those colors didn’t just make us look strong; they reminded us that we had each other’s backs. Without Benny, we wouldn’t have those amazing jerseys. Thank you for your hard work, Benny.

Now, let me share my story.

My journey began in early May, when new members were being recruited. This was my second year in dragon boating, and after competing in three races before, I was ready to help guide new paddlers on their journey. We started with introductions, then Coach Wei taught everyone how to hold a paddle correctly. Soon, life jackets were on, and we were out on the water.

For most of the newcomers, it was their first time, so Coach Wei focused on the basics. We practiced every Sunday for an hour and a half. Each week, we learned something new and kept improving. Even during summer storms, Coach reminded us that unless there was lightning or thunder, practice would continue—because perseverance is what makes a strong dragon boat team.

Fast forward four months: two weeks before the Welland, Niagara Falls race, our team was confident, fast, and ready. Everyone knew their paddling technique, and we had learned the racing style needed to compete.

Race Day – August 9, 2025

We arrived at Welland to see at least 50 teams. Our tent was set up right near the canal. Even before the first race, we knew that win or lose, we’d already gained skills, friendships, and unforgettable memories.

The first race began—five boats at the starting line. The announcer called: “ALL BOATS HOLD. ATTENTION!” Then the horn sounded. We stumbled for just a moment, but within seconds, we took the lead—by an entire boat length. The race was short, only 200 meters, but we maintained our lead the whole way. When we crossed the finish line, we exploded with cheers and high-fives. We were three to five seconds ahead of everyone else.

And guess what? We didn’t just win the first race—we won all three races that day! 🥇🥇🥇 Each time we finished, the crowd on shore was clapping, cheering, and celebrating with us.

At the end of the day, we stood together with our gold medals, listening to Coach Wei and Benny share speeches of gratitude and pride. We clapped, cheered, and said our goodbyes, leaving with medals around our necks and joy in our hearts.

All I can say now is: Thank you, Coach Wei. Thank you, Director Benny. And thank you, NorthStar, for giving me this amazing volunteer opportunity.

This is Johnson, signing off.