I believe that acting as a role model is a very rewarding experience. It is also a very difficult one as well because you have to constantly look yourself in the mirror and reflect on what kind of person you are and what kind of person you want to be. The artifact I chose for this standard is a picture of the high school team I’ve coached for three years. I have known most of the kids for two years and I got to know them really well that they still call me from time to time and ask me advice when it comes to school and coaching. I am very proud of the boys because before I started coaching them, they did not know how to set goals for themselves. The only goal they had for themselves was to win the championship but they did not have academic goals and life goals. Part of my coaching philosophy is to teach valuable life skills through basketball and the first lifeskill I taught was setting goals. The majority of goals that I made the players set were academic and life goals. Most of the players had one basketball related goal and that was to win. I believe that you are constantly being looked at and judged by the people closest to you. The people closest to me were the kids I worked with and that was my players. I made sure that I didn’t do anything that I wouldn’t want my players to do, that included swearing on the court, negative comments towards other players and referees and I made sure I respected everyone and showed respect where I see fit. As a teacher, we are the adult figure between 9-3 but we are a role model 24/7. Its important that we act the way we want our students to see us.
