“Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I have learned to get through the tornados in my life with the help of Girls on the Run. At GOTR they give you a yellow brick road to fearlessness. In this version I am from Pasadena, not Kansas and I don’t have a dog, but I have friends. We are all trying to reach the Emerald City where our coaches work hard tomake our trip easy. For example, there is a scarecrow in my life. She has been through a lot this past week. I have to be strong and fearless for her. I learned at GOTR, to listen to my inner voice and stand up for myself and others. I helped the scarecrow down from a pole of sadness and uncertainty, but I wouldn’t be able to say this without GOTR. There is also a tin man. A person without a heart. She is the one who has kept the scarecrow on her pole this whole time. But in this story the scarecrow and I didn’t bother to take her with us. With the strength I have gotten from GOTR, I don’t need a wizard to get me home, and I don’t need ruby slippers when I have running shoes.”