On Monday, October 6, Tabor Academy hosted the 4th annual Change Makers Conference this year, an event dedicated to empowering student-athletes. Originally created by the Independent School League (ISL), the conference was designed to enhance leadership skills and promote equality within the league to foster a better overall athletic experience. It is a collaboration between ISL Athletic Directors and ISL Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Directors, highlighting the intersection of athletic leadership and social responsibility. Dario Spoljaric ‘27, an active member of the Tabor student body, orchestrated this year’s conference. The event was primarily student-led and featured nine distinct workshops throughout the day.
The main goal of the conference was to shift the perspective on high school sports. It aimed to remind athletes that the primary purpose of playing is to have fun and build character, rather than focus solely on the pressure of using sports as a resource for college admission, thus the motto: Have Fun First, Find Yourself Later.
Dario hopes the conference “reignited the passion of why we play sports at all”–to have fun and build character. In his opening speech, he discussed the five benefits of prioritizing fun in sports: reduced risk of burnout and injury, stronger social connections among athletes, increased long-term involvement, improved mental health, and stronger performance through confidence. Mr. Tony Jaccaci, Head of School, and Mrs. Kelly Walker, Tabor’s Athletic Director, also gave remarks noting the importance of prioritizing fun in sports to encourage student-athletes to approach sports with an improved mindset.
