If you asked Amanda Wotring about her daughter, Hadlee, two years ago, she would have said her nine year old doesn’t always like to put herself out there and wasn't always into the same things as her peers.

"She had a really rough 3rd grade. I think that's the age where you're finding yourself and there's lots of peer pressure. Hadlee wasn't feeling included. Then, she joined Girls on the Run," Amanda recalled.

The journal was a big thing for Hadlee, Amanda said. Every GOTR Girl receives a journal at the beginning of the season to record their individual reflections from each lesson during the processing portion of practice. In addition to the lessons, the team experience at Girls on the Run felt inclusive.

"One of her favorite memories is of her coach during practice, noticing that she was walking by herself and came up and started walking with her," Amanda said. "That made her feel more comfortable and out there."

Hadlee went from doing nothing at the beginning of the season to now signing up for lots of things and staying busy, Amanda added.

"She is a completely different person because of that," Amanda said. "She is so thoughtful and inclusive. She took what she was going through and applied it to others."

Now, what if we asked Hadlee? The program had such a powerful impact on her life that Hadlee wanted to share - in her OWN words - what Girls on the Run has meant to her:

"Hi, I'm Hadlee and I did Girls on the Run when I was in 3rd grade. Third grade was a pretty hard time for me, from not fitting in to beginning to not do good in school. I would say I've always done good in school, but when I started getting picked on and getting into drama, it was a pretty hard time for me. I would wake up and be stressed about my outfit because I wanted to look good for the "cool girls." But then, in March, I started feeling more myself. I started expressing my style and my spirit had been lifted, all because of Girls on the Run. I felt like I was seen and heard, that it was something to get me up in the morning. Some of the things we did during practice was we would all do this circle and talk about our feelings, and for once I found some good friends that got me and that had been going through the same thing as me. The teachers helped a lot, too. There was this teacher, Mrs. Jackey, and something that we still talk about to this day is when I was getting left out by my old friends, Mrs. Jackey would see me walking alone at practice and she would walk with me and we would just start talking. I promise if you are going through something similar, find a Girls on the Run council. Whether it's at your school or not you will always be heard."

If Girls on the Run has had an impact on your life - whether as a Coach, Volunteer, or parent of a participant - please reach out to Rochelle via email. Let's share your story!