Driving down the 405 on Thursday night, I thought I was in for
another typical trip to the airport to spend a couple of days at
another typical Wagner family reunion.
Not that the reunions happen all that often, but I wasn’t
expecting my trip to Utah to be bustling with symbols of American
independence.
Literally thousands of these symbols have been roaming the
streets of Salt Lake City all weekend.
Host to the USA Junior National Volleyball Championships, the
city’s Salt Palace has been filled at all hours of the day
with thousands of girls competing in the hopes of showcasing their
skills as a representative of the United States in future
international competition.
Aged 12 to 18, these players compete in their respective age
groups in hopes of avoiding elimination and capturing the Junior
National title.
Residing only a couple blocks from the Salt Palace, I was
fortunate enough to be in close proximity to some of the players,
and thanks to elevator traffic, I was able to catch a glimpse of
the situations of some of the athletes and their families.
Many had fan clubs made up of best friends and grandparents, all
of whom chose to spend their Independence Day weekend in the
sweltering heat of Salt Lake City to support these aspiring
athletes.
Decked out in face paint and decorated vans, I have never seen
so many giggling, exuberant girls in one place. Even after a day
full of defeat, a team of girls from Phoenix managed to keep high
spirits as they gossiped, laughed and discussed plans for the night
at a local eatery at which I happened to be dining.
Observing the potential for greatness in these young women led
me to think about the great opportunities that exist in abundance
throughout our society.
Individually, there is the opportunity to fulfill a wide variety
of aspirations. Ranging from athletics and academics to
occupational and spiritual decisions, America is a nation where
choice is a top priority.
Despite the challenges our nation faces, both foreign and
domestic, I find comfort living in a country where this kind of
opportunity is available ““ where with enough practice and
patience, a 12-year-old can compete against athletes of similar
caliber from around the nation through an organization that’s
this well put-together.
Due to my busy schedule of family picnics and picture-taking, I
was unable to catch any of the matches. But just watching the
interactions of the athletes was enough to ignite in me an
appreciation for the options made possible in our nation.
The freedoms we enjoy in this country are all too often taken
for granted. Even if one disagrees with the policies of the current
administration or the direction the country is moving in, we still
have a reason to celebrate this Fourth of July.
As the best of these young athletes travel through the brackets
of competition, they epitomize what the July 4 festivities are all
about.
Whether you are an aspiring volleyball player or just in the
stands observing, upward, outward and forward mobility is an option
in our country ““ and that’s something to
commemorate.
Just ask my grandparents, living legacies of American
opportunity, as they celebrate American independence along with
their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend.
E-mail Wagner at ewagner@media.ucla.edu if you’ve had any
interesting experiences in Utah.