With a hectic schedule, it’s easy at times to get lost in the day to day activities that being a Victory Scholar consists of. Going to school as well as playing and coaching for multiple teams is basically a full time job. Even though it may be difficult here and there, it’s important to take a step away at times and realize just how fortunate I am. I’m still able to play the game I love while seeing the beautiful country of Ireland, getting a great education, and making an impact on a group of kids. All of these things directly effect me and my life, but it’s important to realize that I didn’t get here myself. Two of the most important people in my life who have helped me get to where I am today are my parents, and all my successes can in some way be traced back to them.
The older I get, the more I realize and appreciate all of the sacrifices and commitments my parents made for me. They’ve taught me how to play the game I love, spent countless hours traveling or watching me, and found a way to provide anything I needed. More importantly, they’ve taught me a set of values that I carry with me today. These were learned through lessons as well as just being around and watching them everyday.
My dad taught me from a young age the importance of having a good work ethic and being a man of your word. I remember growing up and being in the gym with him and my siblings. Having him teach the game of basketball and all the lessons that come out of it is an experience I’ll always cherish. When it was time to pick a college, my dad and I traveled basically every weekend for about three months. We had a great setup with an air mattress in the back of the van while one of us, almost always my dad, would drive and the other could sleep. We have so many memories from these trips and impressions about schools, coaches, and restaurants we visited that it makes what were typically ten hour or longer trips worth it. When I finally picked a college, I felt extremely confident I would like it because of all the time my dad had invested in the process with me and I ended up having a great four years at St. John Fisher in all aspects. My dad probably missed a handful of my games throughout the four years I spent in Rochester. There’s no doubt he logged the most miles of any parent in the country. Before every game, I can remember looking into the stands and seeing my dad, and usually a few family members he brought. It may seem simple, but this brought a ton of joy to me and became like a ritual before every game would start.
My mom made most of those long trips with my dad. As a physical therapist she’s helped me with pretty much any injury you can think of. On top of all that, she is still to this day calming me down and assuring me that things will work out. As someone who worries constantly about all sorts of minor things, she has talked me through and helped with countless problems. My mom is one of the most genuinely kind and thoughtful people I know. Like almost too kind to the point where she would offer to help clean my apartment and roommates rooms in college. I can’t post anything to Facebook without her commenting on it. Whenever I introduce a friend to her it’s almost comical how many questions she asks. I’ve learned how to change the subject but if not she could talk for a few days. One word to describe my mother is selfless-she cares about others more than herself, and my siblings and I are lucky to have her. She recently learned how to us a bitmoji so now every day I can expect some type of encouraging message and a picture of her character, which is always a treat.
Coaching this year has made me see the importance that parents and mentors have in the lives of young people. Although none of the kids I coach are ever difficult and it’s there was was ABSOLUTELY no chance I was, I can see how being a parent could be a tough job. I’m grateful for my parents, the people they are and values they carry, and the love, patience, and guidance they continue to provide. Although there’s no way I could ever repay them, providing an excuse to travel to Ireland will be a good start.
