Michelle worked with Nancy, our boss and head of the program, on planning all the off the court activities and trips. She helped run many of the day to day operations of the camp.
Nathan: How did you first get involved with TMDF?
Michelle: I was placed with the organization for a class I was taking at MSU, TE250, as a volunteer
N: Is that how you are currently connected with the organization or are you a full employee now?
M: Full time employee. Well technically part time, but a paid employee
N: What do you think separates Todd Martin from other similar programs in the area or other programs that you a familiar with?
M: We are fully dedicated to each of our participants whether it's summer or after school. Every employee goes above and beyond to make sure the kids have everything they need as far as clothing, food, equipment, academic help, tennis help, help completing applications for college, scholarships, or jobs. We work around the clock to help build the best possible lives for our participants
N: Another unique part of TMDF are the field trips. Nancy describes how many of these kids would likely never leave the 20 block radius around their house if it wasn't for these trips. Working with these kids year round do you see the impact of these trips?
M: Throughout the year, the kids use the field trips as talking points or a reference for knowing or understand long certain concepts (if that makes sense). The experience definitely opens up their world to see how many more possibilities there are for them
N: When you say long certain concepts are you talking about some of the themes and messages the program tries to teach through the weekly lifeskill themes?
M: Yes, the field trips tie into our weekly themes so it's an extra way to help them understand and experience the theme
N: Is there anything unique about tennis that helps teach these themes and messages versus other more popular sports like basketball or baseball?
M: Ha you should answer that one. With tennis being an individualized sport it helps teach the kids self confidence, self respect and how to handle conflict in a polite respectable way
N: Yeah thats why i wanted your answer cause you never really played tennis so that answer would be completely different than mine
Nathan: How did you first get involved with TMDF?
Michelle: I was placed with the organization for a class I was taking at MSU, TE250, as a volunteer
N: Is that how you are currently connected with the organization or are you a full employee now?
M: Full time employee. Well technically part time, but a paid employee
N: What do you think separates Todd Martin from other similar programs in the area or other programs that you a familiar with?
M: We are fully dedicated to each of our participants whether it's summer or after school. Every employee goes above and beyond to make sure the kids have everything they need as far as clothing, food, equipment, academic help, tennis help, help completing applications for college, scholarships, or jobs. We work around the clock to help build the best possible lives for our participants
N: Another unique part of TMDF are the field trips. Nancy describes how many of these kids would likely never leave the 20 block radius around their house if it wasn't for these trips. Working with these kids year round do you see the impact of these trips?
M: Throughout the year, the kids use the field trips as talking points or a reference for knowing or understand long certain concepts (if that makes sense). The experience definitely opens up their world to see how many more possibilities there are for them
N: When you say long certain concepts are you talking about some of the themes and messages the program tries to teach through the weekly lifeskill themes?
M: Yes, the field trips tie into our weekly themes so it's an extra way to help them understand and experience the theme
N: Is there anything unique about tennis that helps teach these themes and messages versus other more popular sports like basketball or baseball?
M: Ha you should answer that one. With tennis being an individualized sport it helps teach the kids self confidence, self respect and how to handle conflict in a polite respectable way
N: Yeah thats why i wanted your answer cause you never really played tennis so that answer would be completely different than mine