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My Experience Carrying the Olympic Torch

Name: 
Mark
Graduation Year: 
2011 (PC36)
British Columbia, Canada

My name is Mark Kelsey. I’m a first year student from Comox, British Columbia. Comox is a medium‐sized town three hours north of Pearson College by car. On November 2nd, I returned home to participate in a memorable event; the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

I had found out about my participation in the Relay only a few weeks earlier. Comox had been designated a “celebration community”, and would host an event to celebrate the arrival of the torch. The organizers of the event wanted a local youth to carry the flame off of the stage. I was nominated by a community member, and was awarded the honor in recognition of my
community involvement and volunteer work.

Before participating, my enthusiasm for the event was less than overwhelming. Aware of the many social controversies surrounding the Olympics, I was hesitant to embrace the Relay. Additionally, I thought that the significance of the Relay had been blown out of proportion by its
organizers and its many sponsors. I wondered if participating in the event was really worth the trouble of leaving campus and missing a full day of classes and activities.

In hindsight, however, these concerns seem foolish. Yes, the significance of the Relay may be exaggerated. And yes, there are numerous be social services that could be improved with the funds that go towards the Relay. Yet, as I jogged with the torch and saw the excitement on the faces of the people that I passed, I realized what the Olympic Torch Relay really was
about. After my leg of the relay, as young children asked me for autographs and old couples asked me for hugs, I understood that what I had participated in was worthwhile. When the torch came to Comox, it brought with it an excitement that will continue to engage and unite the country until the torch arrives in Vancouver on February 12, 2010. But more than that, when the
torch came to Comox, it inspired an idealistic spirit that is prevalent here at Pearson ‐ the belief that together, our individual actions can be a powerful force. When I carried the Olympic Torch, I did so in this spirit, and I had an awesome time.