Article About Sara

Alexandria Up Close

JUNE 18 - 24, 2009

ALEXANDRIA TIMES

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Time To Tee Up For Summer Fun By Marty DeVine

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Courtesy photo

Sara Rich gets spooked by an elephant while working in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Alexandria’s Rich Makes a Difference, One Adventure at a Time By Marty DeVine

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eneration Y — sometimes known as the Millennium Generation — is stereotyped as being all about texting, Facebook and MySpace. With a reputation for being highmaintenance, they are “known for rolling into work late while wearing headphones and dressing as if every day were casual Friday,” according to Clay Collins, a popular Generation Y blogger. However, there are some 20-somethings who are out trying to make a difference in the world, and 2002 T.C. Williams graduate Sara Rich is one of them.   Rich has chosen to venture far outside her comfort zone — and continent — in her desire to help others. She is finishing up her second year as a teacher at the American School of Kinshasa, also known as TASOK, in the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formally known as Zaire. At an early age, Rich demonstrated that she is not afraid to jump in and roll up her sleeves to get the job done. While she was in middle school, she organized a  petition drive to implement improvements for Alexandria girls softball. That led to her being interviewed by local TV news stations

and receiving an Alexandria Women’s Commission Award. She ultimately testified  on Capitol Hill for the 25th Anniversary of Title IX. That would be a tough act to follow for anyone, so while she was a student at T.C., Rich proclaimed to her father, retired Alexandria City Councilman Lonnie Rich, that her life had peaked when she was in eighth grade. But little did she know that her life was going to become even more exciting once she left T.C. and completed her B.A. and M.A. in education at the University of Virginia. A rugby player at UVA, Rich saw again what a positive attitude and determined spirit can achieve. Her UVA rugby team, led by volunteer coaches, became one of the top five teams in the nation. They competed against teams from the likes of Stanford, Penn State and the University of Illinois, all elite rugby schools where the coaches are paid. “My coaches, Nancy Kechner and Jules Comer, are totally amazing and were a big reminder to me that you don’t have to get paid in order to be committed and work hard at something you love,” Rich said. After graduating from UVA, Rich’s destination was TASOK in Kinshasa. Now, instead of organizing people to help upgrade Alexandria softball for girls, she is teaching English and social studies at TASOK, where she is

also the Middle School Coordinator and a soccer coach.  The 250 K-12 TASOK students hail from more than 40 countries and, as a result, the school has an international atmosphere. While teaching last year, Rich enlisted the help of her mother, Sally Reams, to help her raise $5,000 to take her varsity soccer team to South Africa for a tournament.  Having successfully raised the funds, the TASOK girls’ soccer team flew to South Africa and showed their appreciation by finishing in fifth place even though they were not considered to be a particularly strong team. Outside of work, life is not easy for Rich. She lives on the grounds of the school and she and her friends only go out on the town in groups because conditions are tough and Kinshasa can be dangerous.  Still, she has no regrets about taking on the teaching assignment. “I never dreamed I’d end up thousands of miles from my family in a country where life is never simple and everyone is laid back about everything,” Rich said. “There is no sense of urgency and punctuality….I was not surprised by the poverty or chaos, but I was surprised by the age gap between me and my teaching colleagues and fellow expatriates who are all

njoying a round of golf can be a relaxing way to spend a few hours, with some people even squeezing in nine holes before heading off to work. The greater Washington area is home to more than 100 public and private golf courses with many excellent, reasonably priced places to play within a short drive from the center of Alexandria. Three of the best public courses are in Washington, while some of the finest holes, according to Washingtonian Magazine’s panel of golf pros, are located on public courses near Alexandria. For those who are learning or not quite ready to hit the pro tour, there are several places to take lessons or simply tweak your swing. Rich Heilman, owner of Old Town Ace Hardware, likes to play during the week on his day off. “I really enjoy playing one of the nine-hole courses at Potomac Ridge,” Heilman said. “It isn’t too far down 210, the three nine-hole courses are pretty and it doesn’t cost too much to play there.” Similarly, Tom Jones said that his schedule at Fannie Mae is extremely busy and so he used to try to squeeze in time at Hill Top’s driving range on Telegraph Road. Now, he said, “I like playing the Hill Top nine-hole course because it doesn’t take a lot of time to play nine holes and the cost is reasonable.” Finding a comprehensive list of places to play in the greater Alexandria area and the costs associated with playing a round is not always easy. Many courses have special discounts on certain days or designated times for seniors, military personnel, women and junior golfers. Below are some courses worth checking out, with the mileage from the Alexandria City center and the price for playing the course at the end of each entry.

Public or municipal golf courses 10 miles or less from the center of Alexandria Greendale Golf Course — 18 holes; par 70; 6700 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA 22310; 703-971-6170; 4 miles. Greens fees $28-$35. Hilltop Golf Club — 9 holes; par 31; 7900 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA

22315; 703-719-6504; 5 miles. Greens fees $20-$32.

Pinecrest Golf Course — 9 holes; par 35; 6600 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312; 703-941-1061; 9 miles. Greens fees $17-$20. Atlantic Golf at Potomac Ridge — 9 holes; par 71; 15800 Sharpersville

Rd., Waldorf, MD 20601; 1-800-791-9078; 6 miles. Greens fees $43-$57 (including cart and use of driving range).

Atlantic Golf at Potomac Ridge, Hollow Ridge Course — 9 holes; par 73; 15800 Sharpersville Rd., Waldorf, MD 20601; 1-800-791-9078; 6 miles. Greens fees $43-$57 (including cart and use of driving range). Atlantic Golf at Potomac Ridge, Ridge Meadow Course — 9 holes;

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Photo/Katherine Parkinson

Seniors pose for the flashbulbs before arriving at the prom.

A Rite of Passage ...

T.C. Seniors Celebrate Prom Night By Katherine Parkinson

This weekend, T.C. Williams seniors celebrated the end of their high school careers with the year’s most anticipated event: Prom Night. The evening began with a photoshoot, as adoring parents took pictures of their soon-to-be graduates. Many couples and groups also went out to dinner on the town before heading to the dance. As soon as the doors opened at 8 p.m., a fleet of luxury cars, limousines and stretch SUVs began to arrive at the Marriot Crystal Gateway in Crystal City where the dance was held. Decorated in their finest eveningwear, the students piled out in cou-

ples. While some wore traditional tuxes and evening gowns, many students got creative. Among the boys, there were top hats and canes, pinstriped suits and matching Nike Air-Force Ones. For the girls, the popular trend seemed to be shorter dresses in bright, funky colors. The Marriot ballroom was also dressed for the occasion, with garnished tables and chairs surrounding the dance floor. As students danced the night away, the T.C. administrators and teacher-chaperones made sure everyone had a safe, fun-filled prom. At the end of the evening, the student-elected Prom Court was announced. Marcus Via and Illhan Ali were pronounced Duke and

Duchess, followed by Danny Ackerman and Rudy Abate, the Prince and Princess of the night. The final announcement came as no surprise, when the star basketball duo Edward Jenkins and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt were crowned King and Queen. Carlie McGuire, a graduating senior who attended the dance last year, thinks this year’s prom will be her most memorable. “It was more special this year because I got to share it with friends who I’ve gone through the ups and downs of high school with.” Although the night to remember has passed, T.C. seniors still have next week’s graduation to look forward to.

GOLF MECCA: There are 10 public or municipal golf courses within 10 miles or from the center of Alexandria.

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par 73; 15800 Sharpersville Rd., Waldorf, MD 20601; 1-800791-9078; 6 miles. Greens fees $43-$57 (including cart and use of driving range).

Henson Creek Golf Course,

Henson Creek Course — 9 holes; par 33; 1641 Tucker Rd., Fort Washington, MD 20744; 301-567-4646, 6 miles. Greens fees $14-$22. Pohick Bay Regional Park Golf Course, Pohick Bay Course —

18 holes; par 72; 10301 Gunston Rd., Lorton, VA 22079; 703-339-8585; 8 miles. Greens fees $48-$60 (including cart).

East Potomac Park Golf Course , Blue Course, White

Course or Red Course — 18 holes; par 72 (Blue); Greens fees $26-$43; par 34 (White) Greens fees $12-$24 and par 31 (Red); Greens fees $9-$21; 972 Ohio Dr. SW, Washington, D.C. 20024; 202-554-7660; 10 miles.

Laurel Hill Golf Club — 18 holes; par 71; 8701 Laurel Crest Dr., Lorton, VA 22079; 703493-8849; 10 miles. Greens fees $43-$57.

Courses more than 10 miles from the Alexandria City Center The Osprey’s Golf Club — 18

holes; par 70; 401 Belmont Bay Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22191; 703-497-1384; 11 miles.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Golf Course, Naval Sur-

face Warfare Center Course — 9 holes; par 72; D-61 Koehler Dr., Indian Head, MD 20640; 301-744-4662; 12 miles. White Plains Golf Course,

— 18 holes; par 70; 1015 Saint Charles Pkwy., White Plains, MD 20695; 301-645-1300; 13 miles.

Photo/Marty DeVine

If the long links aren’t quite your style you can still enjoy putting around on a miniature golf course. Rock Creek Park Golf Course

— 18 holes; par 65; 16th St. NW & Rittenhouse St. NW, Washington, DC 20011; 202882-7332; 16 miles; $22 to $27. Oak Marr Golf Center — 9

holes; par 27; 3200 Jermantown Rd., Oakton, VA 22124; 703-255-5390 x 4; 17 miles.

Lake Arbor Golf Course — 18

holes; par 71; 1401 Golf Course Dr., Mitchellville, MD 20721; 301-336-7771; 18 miles. University of Maryland Golf Course — 18 holes; par 71; Uni-

versity of Maryland Bldg.166, College Park, MD 20742; 301314-4653; 19 miles. Enterprise Golf Course — 18 holes; par 72; 2802 Enterprise Rd., Mitchellville, MD 20721; 301-249-2040; 19 miles. Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club — 41601 Raspberry Dr.,

Leesburg, VA 20178; 703-7792555; $85 to $105.

Swan Point Yacht & Country Club — 11550 Swan Point

Blvd., Swan Point, MD 20645; 301-259-0047; $45 to $79.

Miniature Golf If your ideal round of golf has windmills, dinosaurs or crazy

twists and turns and can be played in an hour, then miniature golf or putt-putt may be just what you need. Cameron Run Regional Park

— 4001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304; 703-9600767. TopGolf Kingstowne — 6625

S. Van Dorn St., Alexandria, VA 22315; 703-924-2600.

Upton Hill Regional Park —

6060 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA; 703-534-3437; 6 miles.

Lake Accotink Park — 7500 Accotink Park Rd., Springfield, VA 22150; 703-569-3464; 8 miles. Jefferson District Park —

7900 Lee Hwy., Falls Church, VA 22042; 703-573-0443; 9 miles.

Pohick Bay Regional Park —

6501 Pohick Bay Dr., Lorton, VA 22079; 703-339-6104; 12 miles.

GOLFZILLA — 3601 Brinkley Rd., Temple Hills, MD 20748; 301-630-4653; 6 miles.

Regardless of your skill, ability or golf aspirations, there is something for everyone who wants to enjoy the game of golf.

Langston Golf Course & D.R., Langston Course — 18 holes;

par 72; 2600 Benning Rd. NE, Washington, DC 20002; 202397-8638; 13 miles.

Jefferson District Park — 9

holes; par 35; 7900 Lee Hwy., Falls Church, VA 22042; 703573-0444; 13 miles.

Burke Lake Golf Center — 18 holes; par 54; 7315 Ox Rd., Fairfax Station, VA 22039; 703323-1641 x4; 14 miles. Lake Ridge Park Golf & Marina, Lake Ridge Course — 9

holes; 12350 Cotton Mill Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22192; 703494-5564; 14 miles.

Marlton Golf Club — 18 holes;

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par 71; 9413 Midland Turnpike, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772; 301-856-7566; 15 miles.

Old Hickory Golf Club — 18 holes; par 72; 11921 Chanceford Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22192; 703-580-9000; 15 miles.

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35-years old or older. That was a difficult transition for me.” Rich went on to add, “I was surprised at how living abroad can make you so intensely aware of your own culture — and in so many ways! There’s just no better way than living abroad for a few years to make you realize that so many of the things you always thought were ‘normal’ are unique to our culture. It’s helped me grow to understand what being an American, a Virginian and an Alexandrian really means.” She summed up her Congolese teaching adventure by saying that she agreed with Maya Angelou, who wrote, “All peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry and die...”  Rich said that “as much as the cultures of our economic background or nationality may seem to clash, when it comes down to it, everything is the same everywhere.  The kids I teach have a lot of the opportunities that come with class and their front row seat to life in Congo. I make sure they know that, appreciate that and take advantage of that.”  Rich also said that she found teaching humbling, “but your growth professionally and as a person will be obvious and measurable. It’s a huge challenge and it takes a lot of patience and hard work to improve.” In her free time, Rich enjoys traveling. Thailand, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Denmark and Ireland are just some of the fascinating places she has explored. Hiking to Uh-

Courtesy photo

Sara Rich in her Kinshasa classroom. uru Peak, at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, has been one of her most exciting and rewarding experiences. At the moment, Rich is traveling through Jordan before returning to the states to visit with family and friends on her summer break.   Rich plans to return to Alexandria following her trip to Jordan and before visiting rugby friends in San Francisco. From there, she will be driving up the West Coast to Alaska and spending a few days in Anchorage before taking a ferry from Juneau to Bellingham. Rich will also fit in International Baccalaureate training at Princeton for the Middle Years Program and a big family reunion in Tennessee before heading back to Kinshasa for her final year of teaching. “I cannot wait to see my family this summer,” Rich said. “My mom just visited me for a couple of weeks, but I haven’t seen the rest of my family in almost a whole year.” Her brother, Alexander, is an

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engineer in Del Ray and has been content to remain in Alexandria.  Her mother still resides in Alexandria as does her father and step-mother, Marcia. The strong female role models in Rich’s life have been a big influence in her decision to teach abroad. Her mother has always encouraged Rich in her pursuit of teaching and her stepmother served in the Peace Corps in what was then Zaire. After her final year at TASOK, Rich said that she may teach somewhere in Latin America and attempt to master Spanish. “I’d love to go to Chile, Argentina or Guatemala,” said the adventurous Rich.  “Once you live abroad you quickly realize how important it is to be at LEAST bilingual.  However, I’m also very open to Southern Asia. Nepal is definitely at the top of my list. I can dream myself into almost any place in the world if I think it’s going to be a valuable experience.”   A few years from now, though, Rich may be teaching in Alexandria’s public schools. “I thought it would be valuable to teach small classes of kids for my first few years in the class room,” Rich said. “That way, when I come back to the states I’ll have some experience under my belt before I dive into the tougher and loftier goal of giving back to my community and giving back to the public school system that has given me the education I needed to accomplish anything that I dream up.” No doubt that Rich’s worldwide adventures and teaching experiences will make her classes all the more interesting and stimulating for any of her future students.