Sahil Lengade

During my volunteer hours at Miracle League, I had the opportunity to serve as a “buddy” in two different game settings. In the first game, I was paired one-on-one with a player named Josh. I assisted him with batting, running the bases, and staying engaged throughout the game while offering encouragement and support. In the second game, there were not enough players assigned to individual buddies, so I worked more flexibly by helping multiple participants. I rotated between players, stepping in wherever support was needed—whether that meant guiding someone around the bases, helping them hit, or simply cheering them on.

I noticed a strong sense of teamwork among volunteers and staff. Everyone communicated effectively and adapted quickly to changing situations, especially during the second game where flexibility was essential. The shared goal was always to ensure that every player felt included and had a positive experience.

This experience connected closely to my values of leadership, adaptability, and service. It reinforced the importance of being patient and responsive to individual needs. I also gained a better understanding of the organization’s mission to promote inclusion and confidence for individuals with disabilities.

Moving forward, this will influence my approach to leadership by emphasizing adaptability, collaboration, and prioritizing people. It showed me that effective leadership often requires stepping in wherever needed and supporting others in a meaningful way.