By Joseph Nguyen
Diversity has always been a huge part of my life. Growing up playing Ultimate in South “Soufend” Seattle meant that I was always around a diverse group of people. I never really given it much of a thought until recent years when I noticed how there were very few people of color playing Ultimate outside of the Soufend. I also noticed how there weren’t many Ultimate programs that were inclusive of low-income players.
I remember going to the Middle School Soufend Ultimate Summer Camp and just loving the vibe of all the different cultural backgrounds in one place, and not worrying about having to pay to be in that space.
Through my internship at AGE UP I had the opportunity to go back to this camp and help coach players from Soufend middle schools. I also had the chance to take amazing photographs of all these unique kids in action. In that moment, I felt so proud to be from the Soufend Ultimate community.
I think it is important to have these type of programs available in the Soufend because it creates a huge impact on these campers future Ultimate careers and lives. It brings huge groups of people from various Soufend schools together and helps them become proud of where they come from.
The Soufend Ultimate community is amazing because of all the players from the different culture backgrounds playing and loving this sport together. Having this opportunity available for the youth makes this sport one of a kind. It helps strengthen the Soufend to see a people in community.. Diversity is what makes Ultimate in the soufend so amazing and different from other Ultimate communities. It’s what brings unites us and brings all of us together.
Joseph Nguyen is an upcoming sophomore at Cleveland High School and is an AGE UP media intern.
