A Day Of Paintball

To the Editor:

This weekend, my husband and I accompanied high school teacher Linda Buonagurio, her husband, and a group of high school students to Waterbury to participate in a day of organized paintball. For those not familiar with the sport, games held at an actual paintball field involve discipline, following directions, teamwork, good sportsmanship, and, often, patience.

It is my pleasure to share with you that the students demonstrated all of these attributes and more. These young adults were considerate, respectful, and well-behaved. Despite a few setbacks at the beginning of the day, the students were patient and well-rewarded when the games actually began. The perfect ending to the day was when the students we had transported thanked us for the ride, and asked us to join them again next time.

This group of students is working to form an official team or club at the high school. As they establish themselves as a group, they will have our full support, and it will be our pleasure to join them for future events.

Despite what some choose to believe, paintball is indeed an organized sport. The young men and women who participated in Saturday’s game were exemplary models of today’s youth, and should be proud to consider themselves athletes.

Sincerely,

Michelle M. Thompson

55 Great Hill Road, Newtown                                      March 31, 2003