Living the dream, playing it forward

Tech. Sgt. Christina Rapolla is living the dream.

Assigned to the 433rd Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the basic military training facilitator is doing work she loves (so much so that she paid her own permanent change of station costs, including the cost of moving her family, from Guam to San Antonio), playing a sport she loves, and is now playing her good fortune forward as a thank you for all the support she’s had.

Rapolla, former Air National Guard electrical systems specialist, has 15 years of uniformed service; three of those in the Reserve. Married with three teenagers, life is crazy and busy all the time. But crazy and busy won’t stop her from following her goals and helping others follow theirs.

As the only Reserve Airman on her JBSA-Lackland lady Warhawks softball team, she’s not just a stand-out player, but a standout Airman, as well,  for teammates and civilian community members alike.

“Most people think I’m active duty - which is cool - but it would be great if we had more Reserve players on the team,” she said. “This is an opportunity that most Reservists won’t have a chance to do somewhere else.”

Playing ball (and practicing) several nights a week while working full time would be challenging for anyone, but Rapolla has an old debt she’s vowed to pay, so in her “free time” she coaches a girls softball team: playing it forward.

“One of my goals is to give back to the community - to kids who are less fortunate,” Rapolla said. “I fell into that category as a kid. My mother was raising four children on her own, so money was tight. My coaches at the time would help pay my fees and assist in any way they could.”

Without their help, she wouldn’t be where she is, wouldn’t have the options that she has.

“It’s the same for some of the girls I coach - there are times when my wife and I have helped parents who are struggling to pay their kids’ fees. For us, it’s about keeping their young women active and playing a sport they enjoy, and trying to be a good role model in their lives.”

Not only does Rapolla get the deep satisfaction of helping less fortunate kids participate in an enjoyable, character-building sport, every practice and game is an opportunity to spend time with her family, including her 16-year-old daughter who plays on the youth team.

“This is a family activity as all of us - my two sons, wife and daughter - all go together. If my daughter is playing, my sons assist us on the field. Even with my Lady Warhawks team, we are always together at practices and games.”