For Cecelia, Girls on the Run was one of the few after-school opportunities offered at her elementary school in Ada, Michigan with Girls on the Run West Michigan. She didn’t know it at the time, but participating in the program would spark a lifetime love of running and eventually bring her back to Girls on the Run as a coach. 

Joining Girls on the Run in fourth grade, Cecelia described herself as a shy child who often struggled with her mental health. She credits the program with helping her build confidence at a young age and giving her tools to navigate challenges as she grew up. Whether through physical exercise or the lessons, Girls on the Run provided a supportive environment where she could step outside of her comfort zone. 

As Cecelia explains, “The lessons help you learn how to interact with people, but in a safe environment. For me, the confidence didn’t necessarily manifest right away, but now I’m not afraid of many things, and if I hadn’t done this program, there’s no way I would’ve had the courage to do certain things when I was older.”

After Girls on the Run, Cecelia continued her running journey with children's marathons, cross country in middle and high school, club running in college, and now recreational running in her free time. She also volunteers at races, drawn to the sense of community and the positive environment that surrounds the sport.

When she moved to Louisiana, she began volunteering to meet people and become involved in her new community. Through that involvement, she became a Girls on the Run coach at Abita Springs Middle School. Cecelia says, “Girls on the Run had such a positive impact on me, so I knew I wanted to give back to this program.” Growing up, Girls on the Run was also one of the first places where she saw women in leadership roles. In many of her other activities, her coaches were men, making the program's female-led environment especially meaningful. 

“One of the reasons I wanted to coach is because I knew I had strong women leading me, and I wanted to do that for young girls. It’s just not every day you get to see that”

Looking back on her time with Girls on the Run, Cecelia beams when she remembers the 5K she ran at the end of the season. The week before the race, her team made matching visors, decorated them, signed them, and wore them on race day. She still has hers, and every time she sees it, it's a reminder of the friendships she made and the experiences that helped the girls grow together in that environment.  

“Girls on the Run helped me see that even though we are all extremely different, there are things we have in common,” she says. She adds that what made the experience stand out was how intentional it was, creating a space for those lessons outside of a traditional classroom or camp setting.

For Cecelia, the impact of Girls on the Run extends beyond her own experience and speaks to why the program itself matters. “It’s important to have the program because it’s a very unique space and it caters to young girls. Spaces like that, especially at the age Girls on the Run targets, are really important for shaping how girls view themselves and other women,” she says.

Her experience reflects what she now hopes to pass on to the next generation of participants: confidence, community, and a space where young girls can grow into how they see themselves and each other.

Cecelia’s story is just one example of the lasting impact Girls on the Run can have long after the final 5K. If you are a Girls on the Run alum, we invite you to stay connected through Beyond the Finish, Girls on the Run South Louisiana's alumni community. Connect with fellow alumni, share your story, hear about volunteer opportunities, and continue making an impact in your community. Join the Beyond the Finish Line community today!