CALEDONIA – Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes.
Sometimes the rub of a powder on a hand is all it takes to spark an epiphany.
For Sofia Lee, the smiles of students at the Rowdy Races in September, sponsored by the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus’ Crown Club, was the beginning.
“I remember talking with my mom afterward and I could not stop talking about how much fun it was and how happy the students were and how it filled me with a lot of joy,” said Lee, a sophomore at Caledonia High School.
Lee spent the next month and a half brainstorming ways to bring that joy to Caledonia High. She talked to teachers and administrators on the Caledonia Schools campus. Soon, an idea that started from Lee pouring colored powder in a student’s hand at the Rowdy Races and watching her feel its texture had grown into a full-fledged undertaking.
On Oct. 31, after plenty of stress in the planning stages, Lee, her peers and teachers celebrated with special needs students from CHS and Caledonia Middle School at the inaugural Carnival at the CHS football field house.
Patterned in the mold of the Challenge of Champions at Caledonia Elementary School, the Carnival included pumpkin painting, guess how many candy corns in a jar, cornhole, washer throwing (like horseshoes), tug of war, ring toss, face painting, parachute games and musical chairs in what was a fun-filled experience for everyone.
“I think it went really smoothly,” Lee said. “I asked some of the students who participated and they said they enjoyed it and wanted to come do it again. I had a lot of teachers tell me how proud they were of me, which made me feel better about it.”
Lee, who describes herself as a “go-getter,” knew she wanted to do something for special needs students immediately after the Rowdy Races, which was her first event as part of the Crown Club. She credited CHS librarian Angela Clark, CHS assistant principal Jason Cobb, CHS teachers Jennifer Chapman and Rebecca Studdard, CMS teacher Elizabeth White, students from CHS’ Anchor Club and the high school and middle school students who helped organize and participated in the Carnival for making it a huge success.
In all, 20-25 middle and high school students and five to seven teachers assisted the 15 special needs students with the activities and games at the Carnival.
“It made me feel good about myself,” Lee said. “There is a saying, ‘If you put your mind to it, you can do it.’ I never really believed that until I did this.”
After he helped haul tables, set up the sound system, get chairs for the activities and brought games for the students, Cobb said Lee “took off with it and grabbed the bull by the horns.”
“I was very impressed with her and the way she was able to get it together,” Cobb said. “Everybody I have talked to said how great it was.”
Lee, who dressed up as Curious George to go with the Halloween theme, hopes to organize a similar event next school year. She is considering switching seasons and possibly holding the next “Carnival” around Christmas 2025, but with a different theme.
“It’s God’s planning,” Lee said. “I feel He put me here at the right place at the right time. That little girl (at the Rowdy Races) showed up at the right place and the right time. I feel like God led me to do it.”
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