The Rising Point
Recently, a friend asked me what prompted the formation of The Rising Point. As Founder and Director, it’s a question that I’ve gotten used to answering with a measure of diplomacy. Actually, the word tactful might be a better way to describe my usual response. I am the head of an organization (however small) and as such I represent more than myself when I speak about it. So when faced with that question about how this all got started I typically refer to big ideas such as empowering youth and fighting for equity in child development programs.
I believe in honoring and working for ideas and movements that are much greater than any individual. At the same time, I believe we also have to be aware of our own personal reasons for doing anything. Often, it is those personal feelings and motives—especially the ability to manage them—that make or break our success in any endeavor. Everybody has an ego and those who can honestly confront it are usually the ones who learn how to properly place it. I’ve learned that this is a prerequisite for being an effective teacher.
“So, tell me more about how this all got started. What made you decide to do this?”
I chuckled to myself, smiled at my friend, and said, “It’s personal. This is my response to everything that I’ve experienced and my vision for what I want to do with my life.”
There it is. This is not really about me, not even close. But I’m damn sure throwing everything about me into it as we work to create something fantastic. I’m traveling on this journey with all of my experiences as a soccer player, highs and lows. I’m throwing in my mistakes as an educator and all of the missed learning opportunities for the kids in my care. I’m adding in the times I wasn’t able to reach the kids I’ve coached or their families. I’m an opinionated son, a know-it-all big brother, and quite often, a stubborn boyfriend. Sure, The Rising Point is about the big ideas I mentioned before. But ultimately it is about people. It is about the very personal quest of rising above obstacles in order to create a culture, an identity, and a legacy. I see myself in the kids we work with, we have similar stories. They are a part of me and I am proud to be one of them.
Truthfully, The Rising Point exists in all of us because it is the moment in which we all decide, on a daily basis, to be the best possible version of ourselves. At their best, that is what education and sport (art) push us to reach. A version of ourselves that is aware and proud of who we are, that sees failure in a positive light, and seeks to empower others by constantly setting an example. We are on a mission to create something big, and because we have so much of ourselves invested, believe us when we say that this is just the beginning.
