Principal's Message
2/26/10 |
Actions...by Dr. Mike Goddard "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."- Ralph Waldo Emerson Being in the different places I've been in my life, I've heard a lot of interesting things in the form of words. When I was young, I would often hear a ton of braggadocios statements before competitions and then enjoy the splendor of victory as talk became very cheap. As I moved into the next steps in life I have since interacted with young people and their parents for over the last 18 years and I tell myself I've heard it all, but then something new comes everyday. As I reflect on my own life, I can easily think of the greatest moment where actions spoke glaringly louder than the words that were uttered. My dad has always been one to be there for me. He basically taught me how to throw a ball, do math (although not his greatest victory since it was more surviving in my case), and exemplify character and integrity in all my interactions. When I got my chance to play Varsity football for the first time is was truly exciting. I was very fortunate to have a lot of talented people around me, but with great fortune on the second play of my career I took off running and I scored my first Varsity touchdown. I was so excited. Just one problem- as soon as I scored I did a small little dance, flashed the ball through my legs and flippantly tossed the ball at the ref- all for show. As soon as I turned to run back the sidelines towards my teammates, I looked up in the stands and the first thing I saw was my dad at the base of stands waving me over. He calmly told me to never "hot dog" again, and “act as if you'd been there before.” From that day on, after every score I handed the ball to the ref and headed to the sidelines to celebrate with friends. It was a powerful lesson to learn. But the greatest lesson was the fact that my dad was even there to walk me through it... What many people didn't realize was that my dad always supported my brother and I, but his actions spoke loudest. See, my dad was a successful football coach himself. He was successful in both My dad asked to be placed at a 9th and 10th grade campus as an Athletic Director and Football coach so his games would be on Thursday nights so he could be free to see me on Friday nights. A lesson I will never forget. Eventually my dad went back to Varsity coaching after I graduated, but those two years of him being there for me changed my life forever. My younger brother got the chance to play for my dad during his high school career a few years later, so his life was touched as well. Talk is cheap. Actions speak for a lifetime. I wonder the last time your actions were blaring so loud that no matter how many times you said "I love you", they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it was true. Seeing my dad in the stands for every game and knowing what he sacrificed to be there have made me a better husband, dad and principal. He showed me love, not just told me about it. Proud to be my dad's son and extremely proud to be a Leopard! |
