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Senior column: Self-sufficiency necessary to build character, learn how to approach issues

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When preparing to leave for college next year, the perennial question begins to get thrown around: are you excited to leave high school?

While it’s easy to overlook, this is somewhat of a loaded question. I know what I will miss. I’ll miss being with all my friends, going home to a home-cooked meal (occasionally) and the great support I received at South.

However, in light of recent events with the varsity golf team, I’ve realized why I couldn’t be more excited to leave the Grosse Pointe “bubble.”
In summary, with no intention to defame anyone’s name, certain parents were not happy with how the team was being run, and our coach was essentially forced to resign.

This was not only completely selfish and ignorant, but if it wasn’t for quick work by our athletic director, our second-ranked Division 1 golf team may not have been able to compete in the playoffs we’ve been practicing for the entire year. It was this situation that couldn’t make me more ready to leave.

I will not miss overbearing parents in all the sports I’ve played, sticking their nose in their child’s life. It’s almost as if year after year kids in this city, if not the entire country, are coddled more and more.

I have been lucky enough to walk out of Grosse Pointe with an understanding that if you deserve to succeed and put the effort in, you will reap the benefits. No amount of parental pawn pushing can change that. It ends up hurting entire teams and rids students of the indispensable knowledge of knowing how to react to failure.

No one is entitled and the “lawnmower” parents mowing down every obstacle in their kid’s life are making them miss out on the real value of sports–to build character and become a better person.

When I go to the University of Michigan next year, I will especially appreciate all my parents have done for me by letting me figure out issues and failures on my own, rather than trying to handle it themselves. I’ve learned how to self-motivate and rebound from failure because of that. and I’m certain those two traits are priceless to have when I leave.

In the end, it doesn’t matter if I make the state golf team or get the most ice time on the hockey rink–I’ll get those privileges if I deserve them.

That being said, I’d like to thank certain coaches that have had to deal with a lot of pressure and unnecessary questioning of decisions by lawnmower parents throughout my life. Especially in golf, where I’ve played varsity for four years now and had three different coaches, two of them not ending their terms without controversy.

In my whole sports career I’ve had coaches who have played me a ton and some who played me very little. However, all pushed me to be the best, not just to play the most.

My only hope is the politics in youth sports disappear and coaches are allowed to make their playing-time decisions based on merit, not because little Timmy’s mom complains. It is important to let sports build a child’s character, not just their résumé.

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