In His Own Words: Varun Ram
6/15/2020
As I reflect on my time at Maryland, so many memories come to mind. I remember the very first time I put on a game jersey (and if I’m being honest, even the first time I put on a Maryland PRACTICE jersey).
It meant the world to me. I grew up watching the Maryland greats – Juan, Steve, Greivis – and to wear the same name across my chest was surreal. I’ll never forget the post-practice huddle at which Coach Turgeon announced to the team that I had earned a roster spot.
I still get chills thinking about that moment.
I remember the big wins – the upsets over Duke in 2013, beating Michigan State in our first ever Big10 road game, our NCAA win against Valpo. I even (unfortunately) remember the big losses – I’ll spare us the details on this one.
Our sold out games at the Xfinity Center stick out to me too. Watching the flag drop. The flash mobs. Gold Rush. Blackout. Storming the court. As a player, let me reiterate how meaningful those moments were.
And don’t get me started on the fans. Oh man, the fans. I know a lot of my teammates now play pro ball, but ask them and they’ll tell you – there’s nothing like a college basketball environment. And Maryland does it best.
The memories are endless. That said, what I remember most vividly are the times I had with my teammates, coaches, managers, graduate assistants, Boosters, fans, and everyone else associated with Maryland basketball. We were all part of a larger family.
The players were an integral part of that family. As teammates, we called each other brothers. I leaned on them, and they leaned on me. We argued. We laughed. We played. We bonded. We supported one another – both on and off the court.
At Maryland, I learned that “Family fights together, not each other.” That was a phrase our character coach, Donnell Jones, often reminded us during tough times. Together, we experienced the highs, the lows, and everything in between. I truly cherish those moments, and the relationships that were built from them. Frankly, as I look back on my experience, that’s what I’m most grateful for.
Many of us, outside of the Maryland basketball family, are fortunate to have a group of close friends and relatives, a team of our own, that we can call family. It’s important, I would even say vital, to have them as a support system as you navigate all parts of life. Without my Maryland team, I don’t know how I would have made it through my time in college as a student athlete.
But not everyone is fortunate enough to have his or her loved ones around during critical moments in life, and that often leads to great difficulty. Given the recent pandemic, this is true now more than ever.
When I learned that healthcare facilities enacted no-visitor policies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, I immediately recognized the unintended consequences of these decisions. Countless patients - especially elderly and low-income - would suffer in social isolation during these trying times without a reliable way to stay connected to their families and communities – their team.
For this cause, I joined a group of young leaders across the country as lead of the DC/MD/VA area for a national organization called Connect for Covid-19. Our goal is to get smart devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets, laptops) into the hands of patients most affected by the coronavirus (e.g., lower income, minority, elderly, etc.).
We have been engaging universities, corporations, and everyday Americans to donate smart devices and chargers to the most in-need healthcare facilities, enabling patients to connect to loved ones during this time of uncertainty.
To date, we have raised over $45K and donated 800+ devices to 200+ healthcare facilities across the country.
However, this is just the beginning – we are working with Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington DC and her team to identify local healthcare facilities that will benefit the most from these devices.
But, Terp family, we need to engage our team to make a difference. Please consider contributing in the following three ways:
- Donate your old/used smart devices
- Donate your dollars - 100% of funds go to purchasing devices. $5,000 = 100 tablets = 1,000 patients able to connect with their families (plus, donations are tax deductible!)
- Spread the word to friends and family (and feel free to use #connectforcovid19 on social media) - there is power in numbers!
Let us come together to make an impact in the lives of those who are unable to connect with their own team, their loved ones. Let us show the world that we are going to pick each other up during these tough times. Let us make the world a better place.
We are Terp Nation – we are a family – that is what we do.
Please reach out to me and my team at ConnectforDC@gmail.com, on our website, or through social media by searching “Connect for Covid-19.”
Varun Ram
