In today’s society, many people have the problem of wanting things without putting in the work to get them. We want the lavish items like the Jordan sneakers, a new career or a fast car but don’t want to make the proper changes to acquire such possessions.
Many high school athletes want the college offers, but few are willing to invest the extra hours in the weight room or on the field to get there. It takes a special type of person to commit to a dream and stick with it until it becomes a reality.
In the last two weeks, the RHS Tigers have had two of their best players announce their commitments to their preferred college. Running back Cam’ron Valdez announced that he’ll be taking his talents to Texas Tech University while wide receiver Kesean Raven will be heading to Sam Houston State University.
I’ve watched these two young men make big plays for the Tigers every week. Most of you have been watching these guys for years, so it’s nothing new to you. Every game, I’ve come to expect these guys to put points on the board and push their team to victory.
It warms my heart to watch these two young men earn the opportunity to play at the next level. They have taken it upon themselves to make sure that their families won’t have to pay for their college education.
As young people, the temptations of going down the wrong path is ever-present. However, these two young men made a decision to dedicate themselves to the game in hopes of creating better lives for themselves.
During this season, I have witnessed the drive of both Valdez and Raven as well as the other senior players. When the team lost three games in a row earlier in the season, the guys could have quit on their team and coaching staff. Instead, they have continued to play hard and are now on the verge of earning a district championship.
Head Coach Jacob Campsey explained how proud he was of the two guys and what they mean to the team.
“I’m super happy for both of them,” Campsey said. “They are both great leaders and play the game the right way.”
Other Tigers such as Anthony Dansby, Ty Mayberry and Jace Robinson should be making their commitments soon and I can’t wait to witness the moment.
One thing I hope the guys know is when they commit, their hard work is not complete. In fact, it will just be getting started. They have to continue giving 110 percent effort in order to reap the benefits of their commitment.
To commit means more than just signing names on a dotted line and getting to wear the cool sports gear for your respective college or university. It’s promising a program that you will not only give your all for them on the field but that you will conduct yourself with class on a daily basis. This means you’re committing to go to class and making sure your grades are up to par. It means pushing yourself on days you may not feel like working out and remembering that other students weren’t awarded the same opportunity.
We’ve seen too many young people with elite talent fall by the wayside because they lacked discipline and perseverance. There will be ups and downs, but you have to push through them.
When it comes to committing to your dreams, I can speak from experience. Kind of like signing a letter of intent, once I received my degree from college, I thought the big compa nies would be rushing to acquire me. It turned out I was wrong.
Little did I know, I hadn’t accomplished anything to garner their attention. I had to start from the bottom, freelance and work my way up just like most others.
With that said, I hope the younger players watch the seniors to see how they should conduct themselves if they want to play at the next level. They can look at these guys as role models and pattern their ways after them.
One of the best things these seniors can do for the youth is win the district championship against Lorena and be remembered forever in the Rockdale history books.
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