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Loudoun teen working at the Olympics
Growing up in Purcellville, William Dowling always loved volleyball.
As a sixth-grader, he said, he used to set up a net in his driveway to play, even when it was snowing outside.
But Dowling, now 19, never imagined he would get the chance to witness the sport on an Olympic level.
This summer, Dowling has been lucky enough to have that chance.
A rising sophomore at Cornell University's Hotel School, he was chosen to represent the school as a food service manager with Aramark, which provides meals for thousands of athletes in Beijing every day.
On June 25, Dowling arrived in China and embarked on his adventure working with Chinese employees, some of whom spoke no English at all. Dowling speaks no Chinese. He said he used hand signals to communicate.
Dowling works 12-hour days, six days a week, but somehow he has found time to visit tourist sites, explore China's culture and experience the inner workings of the Olympics firsthand.
"I walk into work and see athletes like Yao Ming walking around. That's been really special," he said. "It's inspiring and it's also a big motivator. These athletes are just people who worked really hard for they wanted."
Dowling, a serious competitor in volleyball, now plays for Cornell's club team and said he knows what having that kind of passion for something is like.
On Aug. 21, he will get to see the women's beach volleyball competition featuring USA's Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, his favorite team.
As for being in China, Dowling said he was apprehensive to come at first, but he has learned a great deal.
"As a culture, they are extremely nice, generous and thoughtful people," he said. "At the same time, the Chinese are very concerned about putting on a good face for the Olympics."
He said so far, he been impressed with the Chinese employees.
"They're not just cogs in a wheel," Dowling said. "They are people just like you and me. They are smart ... they can problem-solve."
As much as he has learned about others, Dowling also has learned that he is capable of living anywhere on his own.
"I've learned more about life and myself here in two months than I ever did in school," he said. "It's been a phenomenal experience."
Contact the reporter at ecoe@timespapers.com
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