Learning Chess and Giving Back

You can absolutely feel the energy and excitement in the Galloway Elementary cafeteria. Why? It’s chess time! There are multiple chess games between Operation Shoestring Project Rise kids and the chess team at Wingfield High School. Each game is a coaching session where the older kids are helping the younger ones to understand the rules of the game and how to think about the choices they make.

Under the supervision of Beth Thrasher, Wingfield High School math teacher, these youth—both younger and older—are learning more about themselves from these experiences. Beth expressed to me how much her students enjoyed working with the younger kids. “My students love seeing younger kids get into the game and fall in love with it like they did.” In addition to teaching Project Rise kids, her students are also learning patience. When the younger kids have a tough time learning the strategy of the game, the high schooler figures out a way to help them passed their frustrations

Last year, Beth decided to bring the chess team to Operation Shoestring twice a week, so her students can teach chess the game they all loved to younger kids. Knowing the benefits of chess on academics, she started the chess team because she wanted to help improve her students’ performance in school. She also wanted her students to mentor others to expand the exposure of academic success playing chess brings.

The chess team at Wingfield was recently featured on WAPT about their dedication to the game. William Smith, one of the chess team members, said, “It is a battle of the wits. I am testing my intelligence against theirs.” He also said playing on the chess team keeps kids occupied and out of trouble.

Watching other young people—not much older than they are—doing good things in school and in their community, is an invaluable asset and life-lesson for our kids. This experience teaches them more than how to play chess.

It teaches them they don’t have to wait until they are all grown up to give back to their community. It teaches them giving your time to help someone else can be a powerful and rewarding experience.  And it teaches them we’re all connected, and if our community is going to thrive we must invest our time and talents into the next generation.