"I Act With Respect"
A spotlight of inviduals from schools, communities, and from around the world who have taken it upon themselves to "pay it forward" as AWRA Ambassadors. They are vital role models in our society, we humbly thank you, and respect you!
Marissa Verro
"I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parents, coaches, and teachers..."My name is Marissa Verro and I am a senior at Saratoga Springs High School. I am interested in becoming a pharmacist and I am involved in my school’s Career Exploration Internship Program. I am interning at Walgreens in Wilton. I have been on the Saratoga Regional YMCA Springettes Gymnastics Team for 12 years. I am currently team captain and compete at level 9.
How did you meet Coach Rich Johns?
I have known Coach Johns for a while; I met him through my mother. Coach Johns was my mother’s fifth grade elementary school teacher.
How did you hear about Act With Respect Always?
I heard of Act With Respect Always through Coach Johns. I remember seeing him walking around both the high school and middle school proudly sharing his message.
How has the Act With Respect Alway mission effected you personally?
AWRA has made me understand how to be grateful and appreciative of those who surround me; I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parents, coaches, and teachers. It is hard to avoid getting caught up with competitiveness both in school and sports so AWRA has helped me to have a more positive outlook and to be more encouraging to my schoolmates, teammates, and opponents.
Please share with us how you have, or will in the future “Pay it Forward”
As captain of my gymnastics team, I “Pay it Forward” by encouraging everyone on the team to try their best and I constantly try to keep a smile on all the girls’ faces. It is impossible to have every practice be a great one so it is important to make sure my teammates are enjoying themselves and realizing that one bad day is not the end of the world. It is my hope that I serve as a role model for them by showing my respect towards our coaches and inspiring the girls to dream big.
How would you describe the Act With Respect Always mission to others?
I would describe Act With Respect Always as a program designed to help people of all ages to be mindful of everyone around them and treat them with the respect they deserve. It is important to teach everyone how easily their actions can impact others.
Would you recommend Rich to speak about Respect to others?
I would absolutely recommend Mr. Johns to speak about respect and his mission to others. He is a wonderful speaker and his message is one that should be shared with as many people as possible.