Thursday, July 7, 2016

School Zone 7-7-16



By Superintendent Philip Pempin
 
I recently read a 2015 article entitled “How Athletes Inspire Us to Follow Our Dreams” by Mandy Antoniacci.  This is an excellent message that I would like to share, with some paraphrased experiences of my own included.

“Everyone always says, “Follow your dreams!”  But not everyone does it.  Channel the passion of those who do and make a career out of playing a game.”

While many of us won’t ever be able to dunk from a free-throw line or achieve LeBron’s trademark of chasing a down an opponent at full speed and rising up above the rim to block a shot, being “WITNESS” to such actions ignites a fire inside us.  It opens our eyes a wide as a child, and invites the roar of the crowd into our hearts as fuel for our own personal dreams.

I “witnessed” this first hand when I took my granddaughter and grandson to the Indians game on Father’s Day weekend.  Their anticipation was heightened before we even stepped foot into the stadium.  They were waiting impatiently for me, in full Indians garb, as I pulled into the driveway.  When we walked into the ballpark and started to see the lights and hear the crowd, pure magic occurred.  As the team, in pursuit of their dreams, took the field, I felt nearer to the age of the children.  Their faces, my feelings and the dreams of the players inspired me.  

The article continues:  “As everyday people, we may not share the likeness of an athlete’s physical prowess, but we can certainly relate to their passion and learn from their pursuance to follow their dreams.  Here’s how they do it …

They defy odds.  Whether it’s a modest upbringing, a career-threatening injury, or a classic underdog scenario, athletes are out to prove skeptics wrong.  Fueled by non-believers, they possess the ability to overcome adversity like no other.  Where others see fear, they see symbolism of what they want and go for it.”  LeBron and his teammates sure demonstrated this to Golden State!

They sacrifice.  Being an athlete is a lifestyle that consumes every aspect of your life – your free time, your body and for some early on, your collegiate experience as a kid.  In Kobe Bryant’s recent documentary “Muse”, he discusses the epitome of sacrifice when asked about “greatness”.  He said, ‘If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make.  We all can be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice.  What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that.  Family time, hanging out with friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be.  There are sacrifices that come along with making that decision.’

They have one option.  One of my favorite quotes by legendary football Coach Vince Lombardi is, ‘If it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, then why do we keep score?’  This sentiment encapsulates the game of life for an athlete.  They are so dedicated to making their dream of winning a reality that they banish any possibility of a backup plan from their mind.  Thoughts like, ‘If it doesn’t work, I’ll try something else’, etc. simply don’t exist.  Monomaniacal focus on a single goal is the ultimate success stratagem; and a pattern found in everyone from Edison to Einstein and Manning to Mantle.  If you want the power to follow your dreams, you must say no to all the alternatives.

They see life as a game.  Let’s face it, at its core, every sport is a game.  And if athletes are lucky enough, they get paid to play.  Having this vision and approach to life opens up space for playfulness and creativity, and eliminates limitation.  A gamification approach to life also cultivates qualities of resilience, and confidence and an appetite for risk – critical for advancement. 

As you ponder your own dreams in your career and in life, use this time to create your own wake-up call, and channel the fire of the inner athlete (and six-year-old) that exists inside us all.  While your personal game of life awaits, remember … the best dreams happen, when you’re awake.”