Never Take Anything for Granted

This past summer I had the opportunity to play Adapted Basketball with those who aren't as fortunate as I am and are paraplegics or are suffering from medical conditions and disorders that don’t allow them to use their legs. You may not believe it, but Cedar Valley has an Adapted Basketball team that competes locally and has participated in the Special Olympics and other individuals, who only play recreationally. I had the opportunity to play with one of the teams this summer while I was taking summer classes and participating in team workouts. This was my second time playing, as I played a few years ago.

            My first time, it was very difficult to stay in the wheelchair and learn how to be an effective player using what I already knew. I thought it was hard to be in a wheelchair and play basketball. It allowed me to see what it is like in their shoes and learn what they go through every day. I have never been in a wheelchair before.

                      

 Doing this was an eye opener for me and put a lot of smiles on their faces. Here is a quote that I enjoy: “Let your smile change the world, don’t let the world change your smile”- Author Unknown.

             For me personally playing adopted basketball in a wheelchair isn’t easy at all. I still thought it was difficult even though I have played before. I had to try and find a wheel chair that was big enough for me and allowed my legs to sit comfortably. Almost everyone that I played with had a custom fit wheel chair specifically made to play basketball. Many athletes think sports other than their own are easy, until they actually play and realize what it takes to be good and competitive at the sport they are trying out. I never considered Adopted Basketball to be an easy sport. I admire them and it makes me realize how much I am blessed every day to have all my limbs and the capability to use them, because one day they could just be gone or taken away. So I thank GOD every day for blessing me to have everything I have and the ability to play this game I LOVE called basketball.

Below are some rules and explanation of how I was told the game goes.

            First, you have to be able to move fast in your wheelchair and change speeds just as you would in regular basketball, but you can’t use your legs so it’s totally different. Second, you can only dribble twice and or roll your wheels twice before both shooting and passing. This ensures that everyone gets participates in the game, as it’s more of a team effort. Next, no matter how big or small you are, you can be flipped out of your chair. It is advised that you wear your seatbelt so if this does happen, there won’t be as many injuries. Finally, just have fun and compete just as you would in regular basketball because they play to win and compete hard every single play. The same is true for them as it is for me when I play out on the court.

            I enjoyed my time playing with these individuals and I would definitely do it again. Although they can’t play basketball the same way I do and despite our differences, we share a commonality: Love and passion for the game!

            Without the A.C.E.S. program I may have gone into a different direction. I have learned not to take things for granted and live each day to the fullest. To read more about this click here.

After School Programs Enrich Lives

       I recently read an article about Derrick Rose and how he contributes to his community. This professional NBA athlete donated $1 million to After School Matters. After School Matters is a Chicago-based non-profit organization that provides support to 15,000 Chicago teens, in the form of programs held outside of school hours. The teen population at After School Matters is made up of inner city kids whose families live at or below poverty level. Derrick Rose, an NBA MVP and three-time All-Star, was quoted during his interview on espn.com saying "To have a strong community of people who believe in your potential can make all the difference in the world. So many people have invested in me and I want to do the same for Chicago's teens."

        The money Derrick Rose donated will be used to give these teens more recourse to help prepare them for college, jobs, and whatever else life brings them. Benefiting from having a program to help with networking, as well as, preparation for the real world will be very helpful for this group of kids coming out of the inner city.

         After School Matters was founded over two decades ago by Chicago’s former First Lady, Maggie Daley. Since her death in 2012, “My message to our kids is simple – you matter, you deserve every opportunity in life, and you can and should dream big because dreams can come true,” said Rose.

           The Chicago Bulls have contributed to After School Matters for years now. Bulls’ Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf sits on the organization’s Advisory Board, and Bulls’ President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Reinsdorf sits on the Board of Directors.


            This article really hit home for me. I am from north Minneapolis, which is the inner city of Minnesota. During my elementary years all the way up through middle school, I participated in a program like this called A.C.E.S., which stands for Athletes Committed to Educating Students. This was an after-school program that primarily focused on providing tutoring service and mentoring to area children. While in the program, we went on field trips, such as going to see a Twins baseball game, received help on our homework and studies, and participated in many team-building activities to help us learn life skills and lessons. Being a part of such an organization that is still popular and is continually expanding to new middle and high schools was beneficial to me. It has made me the person I am today. If it weren’t for A.C.E.S., who knows where I would have been after school let out or what I have been doing to kill time until basketball practice or going home. I might have easily joined a gang or had been doing other things that my peers and older kids were doing to try and fit in.


            Throughout the years, I have kept in close contact with the former Head of Operations at A.C.E.S, Chad Caruthers. Chad became the Head of Operations during my last year in the program(8^th grade) and has since moved on to pursue a different career at St. Thomas University in Minnesota. Chad and I became very close and we still text, email, and get together to catch up when I am home for a break. He is also a huge fan and has followed me throughout my basketball career.

For more information about A.C.E.S., please visit their website at http://www.aces4kids.org
  
In addition to having after school programs along with mentoring will ensure academic success and help build life and social skills. For a new volunteering opportunity read Building a Foundation of Academic Success.

Building a Foundation of Academic Success

One piece of advice I was told growing up that I will always remember is: “Influence is driven less by influentials and more by the interaction among those who are easily influenced.”

       Last fall, I was invited to Lou Henry Elementary School to read to the Kindergarten and 1^st Grade classes. I didn’t hesitate to say yes because when I was their age, to have a college athlete read to me, would have made my day. I didn’t have any college athletes visit my class, talk to me, or read books to me. It is amazing to see how much of an impact can be made on a child’s day, life, and future academic success just by spending some time with them. You never know how much of a difference can be made from sharing some of your time or talents with other people. Most people will follow in similar footsteps or make changes to their lives when someone, who has been very influential in their life or who has been a role model and someone they look up to, takes time out of their day to volunteer or show they care. As mentioned before, I never had that opportunity growing up in elementary school, so for me to have it now, I was more than grateful to take time and become that influential person or role model for a child.

       Once I arrived and started walking through the halls on my way to the classroom, I started to reminisce to my elementary years. I could tell how amazed the kids were with how tall I was and many had a lot of questions, but were too nervous or shy to ask them. Also, the kids were just full of energy and always had a story to tell about what was going on in school. I remember having many of these same feelings as a child. I was assigned a classroom and the teacher split the class into groups of four children. They were all very attentive and each child was special in his or her own way. While I was reading to them, the kids expressed great attention to detail and laughed and smiled a lot. Once I got done reading to them, they told me how many siblings they had, showed me where they were from and where their ancestors were from, and showed me their plants they were growing at the time. I had a lot of fun and it helped me realize three things: To always keep a smile on my face, be happy that I am alive for another day, and that by doing this small act, I got to make a difference in a young child’s life. This will be something the child will remember for the rest of his or her life. I was proud of myself because I helped them realize that dreams aren’t unachievable and they can do anything they set their minds to. I am the perfect example of this because I have achieved the dream I have had since I was a child.       

        I strive to make a difference and you should too, because any time you can give or volunteer you can change a life or make someone’s day. If given the opportunity, I will do it again, as I’d rather see someone smile and be happy instead of sad and feeling like they are alone.

Here is how you can become involved:

         Contact your local elementary school today to learn how to become a mentor or reading partner. Help make a change in your community and its future generation through being that role model or positive influence. It doesn’t take a lot of time and you will be surprised at the difference it can make on a child’s academic success in your local community. It is better to start today rather than tomorrow! 

Click here to learn why volunteering and being active in the community is so important to me.