'The Essence of Discipline'....
(Nicholas Romain)
DLS 6/08/10
As I picked up today's local Newspaper (CP), I quickly noticed that at the top of the page were some familiar looking faces - being in the sports media allows one to see many local athletes, on, and sometimes off the field - and although not every athlete is a genius there is a common thread that runs through 'Top High School Scholars'. One, two, three, four...I kept counting all the faces whom I have watched over the past few years on the playing surface...before I finished counting (I can't count that high) I realized that over 80% of these 'Top' Scholars' were not only local athletes, but for the most part are the cream of the crop on the playing surface as well, and are also active in their schools, churches, and communities. So, what makes these 'Super-Youth' tick?
The Womens Sports Foundation* has recently published the most comprehensive report ever done on Youth Sports in America, and instead of repeating the 100 plus page report, I'll leave you with a great link: www.womenssportsfoundation.com. It came as no surprise to me that within this report the word 'discipline' is used more than once. 'Discipline', we all know the word, but these 'Top Scholars' seem to personify the very 'Essence of Discipline'...they get up early, study hard, practice hard, play hard, and perhaps the real key, they are always there...where there, you may ask? There in the class room, there at practice, there in the study hall, there on the community programs, there as team captains, there as volunteers, there...as the leaders of tomorrow!**
However, what really amazes me about most of these young people is that they are almost all, to a fault, very humble...they understand what it takes and have the discipline to make it happen without much flag waving (reserved for the parents and grandparents)...the 'Essence of Discipline', I figured out (perhaps far too late for me....maybe not) is that they all have great 'Time Management' skills...but, lets not discount the fact that these kids are also talented, no doudt genetically gifted, and have strong foundations that have been fostered via family, teachers, coaches, administrators, and/or a key person in their life, they also seem to all have a strong inner faith in God. Some are tall, some short, some love being outdoors, some indoors, but one thing for sure....they all love to compete, and that's what seems to be the real reason why they stayed at the 'Top of the Class'.
I'm proud to say that I know most of these young people and I'm amazed at what, and how much each one of them has accomplished....someone once told me, "there is just a thin hair of difference between those who usually finish fisrt, and those who are following ever so close by"....the difference here, I believe, is that one last push, that one last glance at notes, that one last effort to focus when the eyes are too tired to see, and that inner drive that says, I won't quit until the job is complete...it's who I am!
*The Women's Sports Foundation
**Diva La Sports