Editorial: Self-reflection on affecting the younger generation after making an impact

I guess I wanted to make this editorial a little more upbeat considering the challenging times that we are experiencing today. So, I’m going to talk about that cycle of “Wow, they were right.”

Growing up, our parents, guardians, or a trusted authority figure would tell us things that would happen or experience that we mostly didn’t believe. Bills, working for the rest of our lives, and other “I told you so” moments that as an adult, it will make you jump back and say déjà vu. And if you haven’t hit that adulthood yet (I’m talking to you students and children), don’t worry it’s coming.

But I’m going to tell you about the happiness that I am filled with. While I don’t have any biological children, I have been around several students over my 17 years as a coach and an athletic director. I look at them as my children because they are the ones who fill my heart.

As each year passes by, I reflect on spending time with these young adults and it honestly blows my mind. It is pretty hard for me to get it out of my head and not view them as I did before. These young adults have matured and now have careers and families of their own. It makes me think, “Wow, am I really that old?”

But these young adults make me so proud of them. Thanks to social media, I am able to observe their growth and how far they have come, especially from localities such as Charles City and New Kent. As a coach, I have “children” from a lot of other jurisdictions as well, because the impact you have on a person will last a very long time and you never know what it will do for them.

This past week alone, I have had three interactions with former students of mine that just made me smile and be thankful. The first interaction happened when I sent a birthday message to one student-athlete who I use to take to practices because of her transportation issues. I told her how proud I was to see her grow and she responded to me, saying how thankful that I was able to help her and her sister out everyday to ensure they had an equal opportunity to participate in sports.

The second interaction occurred a few days ago when a former student of mine that I also worked with when he was a camp counselor was accepted into the Writers Guild of America East, a union that writes for television shows, video games, movies, and more. I commented on his post congratulating him and honestly, telling him that he is wise beyond his years. A lot of social media posts and simple messages he writes are just impactful and I let him know that. He responded saying that he was humbled by it. Honestly, I am the one that should be humbled.

Finally, another simple interaction I had took place Tuesday afternoon. The action, while miniscule, had a big meeting. While I was putting fuel at my vehicle, I saw a former student-athlete who I haven’t seen in a long time. For those who don’t know, I have a specific routine or greeting with each of my student-athletes that is unique to them. So, when I saw her, I went through my routine and even with her mask on, I could tell she was smiling. I wanted to walk over and hug her but didn’t (for obvious reasons). But I remember this young lady working hard to learn the nuances of playing basketball and doing her best, which was a proud moment in my life.

In the end, sometimes we need to remember that while it’s wonderful to dwell on the past, seeing the impact you had on others is what will lead the next generation to greatness. The old adage that “you never know who is watching” continues to remain true, and just by the responses I received this past week, I am glad to know that I have positively affected at least a few people’s lives.