You believed in me, before I believed in myself (Post 1 of a Series).
I was listening to a George Couros podcast this morning The Power of Believing in Our Students — A Convo with Principal El — Season 2 Ep 14 and I was inspired by the conversation related to raising people up around you and in your life. I work hard to recognize my staff, teachers and students for all the great things they are doing. It’s important to me that I let them know I see them, I’m proud of them and I want the very best for them.
I wanted to take time to recognize the people that helped me throughout my life. Those special individuals that inspired me and gave me the courage and support to chase my dreams. This blog post series is dedicated to them, my way of saying THANK YOU!
I doubt this person has any idea the impact that she made on me. I never had her as a teacher, she was never my coach, she wasn’t an administrator I worked with but she saw something in me when I was in high school that I didn’t even see in myself at the time. She wrote something in my high school yearbook that has stuck with me for the past 29 years.
From time to time I think about what she wrote and it helps me refocus, remember my why and pushes me to be a better leader, but more importantly a better person.
Who is she? Who is the teacher that took the time to write in a hot headed, undisciplined 18-year-old high school kid’s yearbook. Did she know those words would be used to drive him to become the person he is today.
Her name is Mrs. La Mantia. She was an English teacher at my high school, as well as the Assistant Athletic Director. That’s where we connected, in the athletic director‘s office, which was located right outside the gym. Back in high school I was a gym rat, that was my happy place. From football to basketball to the weight room, after school and probably when I was supposed to be in another class, I was in the gym.
The athletic director, Vito D’Orio, God rest his sole and Mrs. La Mantia would look after me. They would give me jobs to do in their office, let me help out during games, run errands for them, etc. They trusted me, and I didn’t want to let them down. They wanted me to be better than, at times, I acted.
Mrs. La Mantia, thanks for believing in me, writing those words of encouragement and pushing me to better. As an educator you changed my life simply by caring, encouraging and inspiring me to see what I could become. Sometimes a few sentences, small words of encouragement can go a long way for someone who needs to hear them.
The little things matter, relationships matter and showing you care, makes all the difference in the world.
On behalf of my two sons Kyle (17) and Jake (14) my Fiancé Sharon and my two step daughters Amelia (10) & Layne (10) thank you Mrs. La Mantia for being an educator that cared about their dad/husband to help make him into the man he is today.
To Kevin,
What can I say? Please watch your temper and try to think first before reacting. I’m going to miss you.
I know whenever I needed help, I was always able to look for you and you would help me. That’s the Kevin I’ve grown to love, not the Kevin that reacts first and thinks about it later.
I will miss you, but if you need help with anything just ask. You have the ability to be a great leader, you showed that as captain of the football team. Use those leadership abilities when you’re at school, that’s the quality that will take you far.
-V. La Mantia