BEYOND the BOOKS
HORIZO N S AT BR UN SW I C K
‘ Older Brother’ Leads by Example By Hank Michalik ’19
W
ITH POSSESSION of the soccer ball,
classes would journey out onto
though, he attempts to dodge all
the Brunswick turf for an intense
the defenders on his own. And his
matchup between the grades.
efforts ultimately prove futile.
As the game continues, the
More important, his teammates
Instead, I set an example. I make it a point to pass to the less-talented kids whenever I can. I shadow them as they move up the
I dribble up the
second graders push the ball toward
begin to lose interest in playing the
turf, making sure to recover the ball
field towards the
our end. A skirmish develops around
game. I look back toward our goal to
when they lose it. Sure enough, they
next second-grade
our goal, the ball popping back and
find some of the soccer players tack-
become interested again, and the
defender. Down the
forth between the kids’ feet until it
ling Brunswick’s football dummies,
game becomes competitive.
field, I spot Jason, a
finally rolls into the right side of the
with one of them even climbing in
student of mine, open near the goal.
net. The opposing team had scored
the lacrosse net.
Quickly, I launch the ball to his feet,
an easy goal on our goalie, who,
and he gracefully boots it into the
unlike Jason, was not quite as agile
But I refrain from pleading with the
respect for my actions — not in the
repurposed lacrosse net.
on the field. In fact, about half of
kids to play or
way a student respects a teacher, but almost akin to how a young boy
Golazo! As he runs back in
I decide something must be done.
the players fell into this category:
lecturing Jason
celebration, I take a step back to
Not-so-talented, but still interested
on the impor-
appreciate the moment.
in participating.
tance of good
The summer sun shines bright
Jason was clearly not happy.
sportsmanship.
But the most rewarding part of the experience comes when I see Jason begin to imitate and show
would respect an older brother. Jason begins to pass the ball to the others and to shadow them just as I had. In doing so, he makes the game fun and engaging for the whole team. And that day, the third graders won.
on another day of Horizons, the
He was intent on winning, and he
six-week enrichment program for
became easily frustrated at the
underserved kids in Greenwich.
smallest of mistakes.
These epic recess games of soccer had become a ritual during my time as a third-grade classroom assistant.
“Come on, Mr. Hank. Why do you let him be goalie?” Jason whined. With the ball now in our
Every day, after morning reading
possession, Jason begins to dribble
lessons, the second- and third-grade
down the field. Instead of passing,
56 | TIMES
OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2019