By Sophia Rutti
Great Falls resident Victoria Matthews is a champion golf and tennis player, an accomplished ballerina, a singer-songwriter and the leader of her own anti-bullying campaign called “Sing and Swing for No Kid Bullied.” While many of us search for our passions and talents throughout our lives, Matthews has found both in spades at only 10 years old.
Matthews may be busy, but it doesn’t faze her. From her studies at Nysmith School for the Gifted to qualifying for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships when she was 6 to playing the piano and guitar, Matthews has her hands full, but she always finds a way to be a kid. Whether that means writing lyrics during the commercials of a “SpongeBob SquarePants” episode or becoming friends with her competitors on the golf course, Matthews seems to have it all figured out.
What do you like most about playing golf?
I love the sport, but my favorite thing about it is being able to be with my dad when I play it. My dad is my caddy when I play, so I love spending that time with him. He introduced me to the sport.
Between golf and tennis, do you prefer one over the other?
I want to keep up both at the level I am now, but they are different. When you’re on a tennis court, you’re a lot more serious and don’t talk as much, but golf is a very social game, which I like a lot. It’s fun because a lot of people I play with are my competitors during competitions but are also my friends off the course.
You recently released an album called “Warrior.” Can you tell me a little about that?
“Warrior” was released in January 2015. I wrote the songs myself about my own experience in third grade when I was being bullied. I wrote that song as a way to express my feelings. I performed that song in front of my school, and the person who was bullying me apologized, and we are actually good friends now.
Why do you think it is so important to campaign against bullying through your “Sing and Swing for No Kid Bullied” program?
My bullying experience last year was the inspiration for the campaign. I think that bullying is wrong, and people shouldn’t have to go through anything like that for one day, for a week or for any amount of time. By making this campaign I feel like I can help to get rid of bullying by going to different venues, performing and raising money and awareness. I hope to find corporate sponsors and partner up with other schools and anti-bullying organizations—first locally, then regionally and eventually nationally to help stop bullying.
