By Amy Sessler Powell
Courtesy of the Swampscott Patch. You can view the original article here.
I am inspired to write this column by my son Jake Powell and Peter Hale, his close friend since the day the two met in first grade.
Their story belongs to children in fields and gyms all over our country.
They were the kids with the concave chests in third, fourth and fifth grade. They were the kids who played right field and batted ninth. They were the ones who often struck out, sometimes with the game on the line.
Fast forward 10 years and they are the two students from Swampscott High School to advance, in individual sports, to the all-state tournament level in their respective sports, wrestling and track. Only the top six finishers in each state division, in their respective events, advance to this level.
Friday night, they sat in my kitchen, both wearing their MIAA tournament sweats and T-shirts with the names of all the qualifiers printed on the back. They compared their medals, happy to share in each other’s glory, proud of each other’s accomplishments.
They are not thinking about their Little League baseball days. They had fun regardless of their skill level. I am the one who thinks about that and I think about it often as both a cautionary and inspirational tale.
I think of them when I watch my younger child’s games or hear the sideline stories from parents of still younger children. There is a tendency to label a child as a good or bad athlete at a young age.
No one should ever be counted out. Kids grow, mature and find their passions. Kids get into shape and start to work hard. No one should be counted in, either. Kids get lazy, find other interests or take dangerous detours.
At some point, any sport will demand training and perseverance. Kids who are sailing along on raw talent will stall if they don’t put in the work. Others who enjoyed larger stature will see others grow taller or stronger. Some will flounder when their parents are no longer dictating their play time.
The child who cannot hit a fast pitch might be willing to run miles to perfect his time. The child who is unwilling to practice pop flies in the backyard may be willing to drill takedowns for hours in a smelly gym.
Jake and Peter’s success didn’t just happen. They found their passion and ability in different sports. They combined talent with hard work. They capitalized on opportunities, trained, strived and achieved.
If you would have asked the question, back in the Little League or youth soccer days: Who here will be a star in high school? It is easy to remember who would have gotten the nod. Where are they now?
It’s a mixed bag. Some have taken unfortunate detours into risky behavior, squandering talent and opportunity. Some are still swinging the bat well and setting impressive statistics. Some shine on other fields. It’s unpredictable.
What is clear is that these two would not have received any votes in that straw poll. Yet, here they are. It’s a privilege to bear witness.
About this column: A Swampscott mom reflects on her daily mom experiences. This article was posted with the permission of the Swampscott Patch. Please contact Editor Terry Date at terry.date@patch.com if you have questions or comments.
