Sports (Specialist High Skills Major)
What a fantastic day for our St. Mary's High School Specialist High Skills Major - Sports program. Some students received an exceptional opportunity to meet and greet a truly great Canadian athletic icon Mike "Pinball" Clemons - GM of the Toronto Argonauts.. A huge thank you to Shawn McNamara and the Small Business Centre of Oxford who put this together. The students attended a business luncheon at Craigowan Golf course, followed by a keynote address by Pinball. Afterword's, he was so gracious to spend a great deal of time with them. He was exceptional warm and inspiring for our crew so much so that we had to pull the kids away or they still would be there talking.
What a message for these kids. Two moments stand out.
First was when he said "I know that I am not special. Once you get out from under your own sense of self importance .... you can do great things."
The second was when he literal challenged each student. After listing some of the real challenges and obstacles he faced and what he was able to accomplish. He paused his speech to come down on the floor.... came over to a students table, shook their hand, Looked a student square in the eye and said. "I don't ask why I was able to accomplish great things... I ask "Why not you?". and then moved to the next student " Why not you... and so on around the table to all the students. repeating "why not you" Powerful stuff!!. Finished with a funny moment when he asked a student to stand up, who was well over six feet tall who towered over 5 foot 6 Pinball who smirked... looked up at the student and said. "Seriously, why not you?" The man knows how to command a room.
Thank you Pinball for your inspiration and willingness to take the time for these students. You truly made an impact on these young lives today. ~SMHS teacher P. Sloan
