~:[CH12 - Day 265]:~ My Only Hope ...

 

~:[CH12 - Day 265]:~ My Only Hope ...

It was may be four seconds after I made an announcement that someone asked a question that I just answered. If it was the first time, I think I would be understanding, but this year has been quite the challenge as repeating things, posting things and even writing things on the board doesn't seem to work. From the classroom to the practice fields, I've faced so many more challenges than before. With our race coming up tomorrow, you couldn't imagine the number of emails I've gotten saying, "I can't attend because ..." For some, they didn't even take the time to email, rather had their parents to do it for them. I sometimes wonder, what has allowed things to unwind so quickly. I know that the pandemic was some of the reason for some of the issues, but a few years out, how are we going to screw the bolts back in so we can solidify our future? I have many students/athletes who will be just fine as they head forward, but the growing number I feel concern for has grown. What needs to change and how can we reverse the cycle? One moment today stood out, however, when our inner circle leading the stretches linked arms and helped each other up. They did it just for fun, but it also made me think that one way we can reverse this cycle is to be that counterweight to help us get back up on our feet. For all of us, we need to learn to carry our own weight and the time is coming where these young minds should begin to do it on their own, but also knowing that occasionally, it's alright to seek the help from those around. My only hope as we head forward is that these young minds begin to take on more responsibility, not in terms of school work or extracurricular activities, but more responsibility over their own lives. I hope they learn to be more thorough, to take care of things they can now do, to communicate and make sure they face problems head on, find the grit to dig through tough challenges and never leave their business unfinished. The reality is, just like in my own life, they won't be able to cover every bit of it, but the more that they can handle and take on, the better prepared they will be in the future. In some cases people will say, but they might become overwhelmed, however, I hope that they see that these young minds are fully capable if we give them the power and responsibility to begin laying their own path early on. Not only can they do it, they'll be better off because of it. Today, that inner circle took it upon themselves to use their resources and pick themselves up and my only hope is that all of these young minds will take it upon themselves to take charge of their own roads and be the ones who forget their path ahead. I already have had so many who currently show me that they can and my own hope is that the number of those who show me they can continues to grow, as I am confident that they have what it takes once they are shown the light.