In almost every high school across the country, athletes sign their national letter of intent to celebrate a scholarship with a particular school. It’s usually a big deal. Schools set up a table with the college colors. Athletes wear a shirt or hat to indicate where he/she will attend college. Family and friends attend the event to support the athlete. …
Choose Your Friends Carefully
I always remember my mother telling me to choose my friends wisely. If you befriend the wrong person who does the wrong thing at the wrong time, and you are with them, you too might get into trouble, even if it isn’t your fault. That’s life. Many a person is in prison because of just such a situation. It was …
America – The Promised Land
Gene Simmons was born in Israel shortly after the end of World War II. Most of his family perished under the Hitler regime in concentration camps because they were Jewish. When Gene turned 9, he and his mother legally immigrated to America. Most people know Gene Simmons as the former lead singer of KISS, a rock-n-roll band, who wore makeup …
Super Bowl Altercation Between Travis Kelce and Coach Andy Reid – What Do You Think?
During the first half of the Super Bowl that featured the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers, the Chiefs were not playing very well. To make matters worse, they had just fumbled the ball. So, an irate player for the Chiefs, Travis Kelce (a.k.a. Taylor Swift’s boyfriend) approaches head coach, Andy Reid on the sideline. Kelce grabs Reid …
Overcoming Hate with Friendship and Communication
Daryl Davis is a black man. He is a black man who has spent countless hours at Ku Klux Klan rallies (KKK). He has invited KKK leaders to his house… and shared meals with these men. You might ask yourself, “Why would Mr. Davis do this?” Is he some kind of bizarre racist who hates his own race? The answer …
What Makes the Highest Performing Teams – Service
Simon Sinek is a researcher, author and public speaker. He set out to discover what qualities produced the best team members and leaders. He spent part of his time speaking with members of the Navy Seals. This group is made up of some of the finest leaders in the world. In order to become a Seal, someone in the Navy …
“It’s Hard to Fail When You’re Giving Bikes to Kids”
When I was a child growing up in the 1980s, my bike was an important part of my life. My favorite bike was a Predator Cromo, a dirt bike that I received for Christmas one year. This bike represented fun – we were always racing bikes, riding “wheelies” and creating jumps. This bike represented freedom – I rode it everywhere. …
Perspective: How Would You Live this Day Over?
Perspective. We mostly go through our daily lives by going through the motions. One day leads to the next. Alarm, breakfast, school, lunch, more school, practice, homework, dinner, TV, bedtime. Something like that. Most days are not special or memorable. For example, can you remember what you did on November 7th of last year? Me neither. This simple 1-minute video …
Three Simple Rules of Life
Stephen Hawking once said, “Showing up is half the battle.” This quote always stuck with me. It’s so simple that sometimes we forget the importance of the statement. You can’t be considered for the job if you don’t submit your resume. You can’t win the race if you are not entered. You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy …
Sportsmanship on Display at X-Country Meet
At a cross-country meet in Wisconsin earlier this season, something unusual happened. With about a half-mile left in the race, Seppi Camilli, a runner from Marquette (MI) High School, made a bold move and broke free from several competitors from Stevens Point High School. With just the ‘straight-away’ left, he found himself alone in second place. However, with about 15 …