Editors Note 📝 – This will stray from our normal posts 📫 which are designed to be consumed in two minutes or less. This will be part 1 of 4 and I hope it will be as enjoyable to read as it will be for me to write ✍.
Our number one goal with the Carroll County Sports Report is and will always be to try and provide a safe place for people to visit every so often and catch up on the latest efforts of our youth. 100% positive information about our Youth, whom happen to be our future.
Having raised five children ourselves its easy to list the day 2 day challenges of being a parent. One can only spend so many hours in a day with a child, after that it becomes about who’s influences him or her when you’re not by their side?
The list starts with their Teachers at the school 🏫 they attend. Whether it be a second grader or a Sophomore at the High School, the Teachers are going to play a major role in raising a Child.
We are now just inside of two weeks out from our Banquet and its not by accident that we will be celebrating the efforts of a number of Teachers and Coaches that afternoon. Education is the center of the universe in our World 🌎 and any chance that presents itself to try and acknowledge the efforts of the Students and Instructors / Administrators we do our best to shine the brightest light we can in their direction.
The next person(s) that has influence over our Youth falls under the category of whoever it is that he or she looks up to. The term Role Model has been a hot topic for as long as I can remember. Back in the 80’s, Charles Barkley and some others in the National Basketball Association brought the conversation to the forefront for a year or two. Who’s job is it to be a Role Model, who wants the burden of being a Role Model ?
Sadly, in our society today we spend as much time tearing people down as we do trying to build them up. I don’t understand why this is but it is. Knowing this, people that are capable of being a Role Model have to factor in the grief that comes with being a public figure.
When are we too old to need a Role Model ? Having just turned 60, I still have two of them myself, Tim Tebow and Aaron Sorkin. Both of these men are people that I admire and strive to be more like everyday. A Role Model is someone that leads by example but their human, just like the rest of us.
We are now in year four of our time here in Carroll County, which in Dog Years is equivalent to a day and a half. I understand where we live and that we will realistically never reach the status of “Being from here “.
That is not a new problem for me because I have never been from somewhere. It doesn’t mean that you don’t try and help when and where you can.
For three ➕ years now I have been searching for what I would call a ” poster child ” for the campaign. The search has taken me into the path of some pretty impressive people.
Using some examples of folks, from different age brackets that have stood out to me, not trying to list everyone but a few examples.
Addie’s Grandma 👵, most of you know her as Mrs. Tammy . She plays a large role in our Community and gives of herself everyday.
The next person on the radar is Ryan Largen. Ryan is young and energetic ➕ he has an understanding of his surroundings. I am constantly trying to nudge him in the direction of being comfortable with stepping up.
Shannon Dalton and Shelia Harris are two ladies that impress me on a daily basis. Their commitment to our Youth is off the charts. Either one of them is a person who could and should be looked up to.
Vickey Ritchie is a Lady 👩 that is astonishing. Her Love for what she does, who she does it for and where she lives.
Adrienne Harris is a young Lady 👩 that I like to call “Our Future “. The next 10 years of her life will be something to take in and enjoy.
Brandi Cochran – Mitchell is as impressive as they come. If you’re making a list of people that are giving up their time for the betterment of others.
Ethan Edwards is going places and appears to be doing it with Grace and Style. The old saying that the Sky is the Limit.
Of everything that Alyssa Ervin accomplished this season the number one thing to me was her efforts to mentor her younger teammates from start to finish. Her ability to do so took the team to another State Tournament.
The laser focus of Ethan Richardson, the effort that Isaiah Easter put in to accomplish his goals, how easy Davis Reitzel makes everything look ➕➕➕… The list goes on and on.
It’s a challenge to live somewhere that you will probably never be accepted but continues to try and do what I believe to be right for our Youth.
I was wondering if I would ever find my Poster Child, the example, someone who is willing to stand up and say Follow my lead.
That search ended yesterday in the outskirts of Dugspur !!!!!!
Parts 2, 3 and 4 will be about this Amazing young woman and her Father
A.S.P.N on The Hill 