Inspiring Confidence

I was a clumsy unco-ordinated teenager. I seemed to think I could play basketball in my early teen years particularly because of my height. In my junior year of high school I was suddenly confronted with a coach who told me I couldn't do anything right. It was a long year but I stuck it out vowing I wouldn't subject myself to this treatment again.

At the beginning of my senior year, a new coach, Dick Dorsey, was named the new coach at West Aurora Sr. H.S. He encouraged me to come out for the team, and spent hours working on my co-ordination and confidence. By the end of the year Mr. Dorsey had developed a team that went on to a regional championship.

More importantly, he gave me the self confidence to overcome many adult critics (my father included). I can never repay him for the self confidence he gave me.

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