When asked to observe a creative activity or movement and write an essay about it, I was a little skeptical. I have never been a keen observer nor have I listened and learned about what I watched. I decided to observe something that I know and that I am passionate about. Over the weekend, The High Point Men's lacrosse team took a trip to Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina to run a camp teaching young kids about lacrosse. I observed and listened as the upperclassmen coached and watch the kids learn and adapt to the new techniques. This is a creative act because lacrosse is an art and we are passing our knowledge and skill to the next generation of lacrosse players.
As we arrived, the kids were eager to learn from division 1 athletes about how to play the game we both love. As a team, we wanted to teach these kids to play lacrosse properly in hope that someday, they can run a camp and teach kids on their own. Once we got on the field, the players needed some work due to the fact they were inexperienced and still maturing as players and people. Our coach Ron Garling adapted to the way they learned and ran them through some drills that we do on a regular basis. As practice progressed, so did the kids knowledge of lacrosse and they ran through the drills without any instruction at all.
Being given so much and the opportunity to play lacrosse at High Point University, we as a team knew that we had to give something back to the surrounding communities in hopes of giving them a shot to play at the collegiate level. When the kids finished practice, we all saw them excited to play again and use the tools they've learned in the future. All of them were grateful that we had taken the time to teach and mentor them in the great game that is lacrosse.
I felt a sense of gratefulness because these kids taught me something as well. We were supposed to show up and teach students about lacrosse and we accomplished that goal, plus more.