Not totally confused, but all over place...with no sense of direction. They were from many different parts of Africa, Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, The Ivory Cost, Togo, Nigeria and Ghana. Their accents were stronger than mine...because I left Africa more than twenty two years ago. They started going to school and some were having difficult times adjusting to their new lives in the United States. New friends were beginning to influence them make wrong decision and they were failing in subjects that they would otherwise excelled at when they were in Africa, like math, science.
You see, the parents of these children are working at all sorts of odd jobs/schedules and are mostly away from home and with limited or no support with regards to parenting the United States. I recruited everyone of them and form a soccer Club called HOSA FC, (Horoya Soccer Academy) "Horoya" in mandingo means, liberty. I begin to coach and mentor them. I also try to talk to them about various potential issues they may face in their new country, the US, such as drugs, gang activities and the prison culture.
I am very happy to mention that its been six years, and almost all of the boys have graduated from high school, with no incident and some went on to four universities including here at UNCC. Just recently here on the university campus one of my former players was delighted to see me in a class that he's enrolled in as well. I must admit, it felt really good when the kid yelled COACH!!!
This entry really hits home for me in many ways. When I was a horseback riding instructor, I also volunteered as the head coach for Union County's Special Olympics team. Many of these kids came from fractured families, due to the added stress of raising a child with often times many challenges. Often from single-mother homes, these children had little structure and their support, though there when it was there, was limited. It is amazing what being there for someone and believing in them can do for a person's development. We often times forget how much we can influence one another. That is, until we hear a familiar voice lovingly calling out our name, "Coach."
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