My First Camp
Growing up I was blessed with being able to learn and receive help from many different people along the way. There was never a time in my life where there wasn’t someone not only trying to help refine my basketball skills, but help me become a better person. This year was thefirst camp I was ever able to work. I was always a part of many different summer camps and tried to go to as many as I could when I was young. Finally this year, I was able to give back and try to have my own camp. Being able to meet the guest speakers was always a big thing for me growing up, so I tried to be there as much as possible so to answer questions and truly just help. Being able to help those kids grow not only on the basketball court, but individually as a human is an experience that is priceless. It’s funny, too, because you would think kidsas young as these ones were would be asking me all basketball questions, but their questions ranged from politics to money. lol. To me this is the best part about playing in the NBA -- just being able to put a smile on a kids' face that was in the same boat as I once was isgreat. I remember during the first day of camp, there was a kid there that was just crying and crying and crying. He was young, and just missed his parents and was ready to leave. I was able to go over and spend some time and just talk with him, and his attitude did a 360 degree flip. It was kind of a double edge sword, because once I got him talking and feeling better, he didn’t want to stop the rest of the day. lol. But it was well worth it. Just seeing the affect athletes or anyone can have on a kid makes you want to help out with their lives. Now that I have done one camp,I have to keep doing more, be
7 comments:
as a mom...this makes my heart smile....I would love for my son to be at your camp :)
That's great, Jerryd. I'm sure that kid will never forget the conversation he had with you. You are in a unique position to be able to affect the lives of those kids in a very impactful way. I'm sure that is a blessing as well as a curse. I'm glad to hear that you get it even at your young age and that you want to cultivate those relationships with them. Keep it up! And, go Blazers!
-Kira
Lol, a 360 degree flip would put you in the same place. :) It's okay, Jason Kidd made the same mistake.
hahaha yeah^ i was at the camp and it was reallllyyy fun!!!! you should do it again next summer but make it so kids that have just got out from maybe 3rd to 8th grade could do it. If that happens i will DEFINITELY come back next year. oh and you should have the same coaches. they were awesome. go celtics :D
oh and do you remember patrick? he was that short little asiain boy. is that who you were talking about?
Jerryd, You have a "servants heart" and that makes you a gift and a blessing. My prayer is that you continue to change the world through your giving, one kid and one moment at a time, and never allow the world to change you. -Sister H.
Will your camp be open for summer here in portland?
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