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Since my career ending
injury, I have realized a great passion for helping kids, and providing opportunities for students to grow on and off
the field. During my progression as an individual I have been blessed with many fantastic opportunities,
and continue to be blessed everyday with my new opportunities and my new acquaintances. As a student at Oklahoma State University
I experienced many great things on the playing field and have lifelong memories to share with all. However,
I feel that I greatly underachieved and let myself down by only working hard enough in the classroom to maintain athletic
eligibility. It wasn't until after my injury that I realized how quickly life can change.
I grew up in London,
Ontario, Canada in a great family that worked hard to build something for the future. I grew up not appreciating the
education system and not thinking that the education system would offer much for me. At that time a college education was
something that wasn't talked about much in my house.
As I grew older and
our family became closer, our business became more financially stable and my career goals included continuing to
work for the family and graduating high school. Going to college wasn't a thought for me until I turned sixteen. My entire childhood
I always loved playing sports. We had a lot of land where I lived, so I just made my own "home-style" football fields,
golf courses, hockey rinks, basketball courts, baseball fields, and tennis courts. Most days when I was done working my friends
would come over and we would play something. If my friends didn't come over, I would pitch or play tennis off the wall
by myself. I just loved playing. I was always good at sports, buy my size was limiting to me. I was short and stalky and was
always just good at everything.
When I turned sixteen,
I grew six inches in a three month period and became a great player at many sports. Coaches started calling, and people
started noticing. It was at this time that college became a thought to me, but not for an education, rather to provide
me a window to be a professional athlete. So, I worked hard at baseball and volleyball and was offered the opportunity
to play baseball at Oklahoma State University. I did so; however I never really applied myself in the classroom. I was
always on academic probation and struggled to stay in school. My only vision was that of playing professional baseball. As
it turned out, my dream came true and I was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992.
I played for seven
years in the Blue Jays Organization and when on the verge of entering the major leagues my playing career ended.
I suffered a torn ligament in my pitching arm and never played again. I had a great career, and after three years of
surgery, rehab, and coaching at the University of Texas at Dallas I enrolled at DeVry University to complete my
degree. This was the start of my true educational advancement and my discovery of my desire to help students.
I started working
with athletes as a private instructor and also was educating myself in the classroom. I was doing most of my school work
at night and started volunteering at Race's (my son) school. I continued to do so for two years and then I also started
substitute teaching. I organized many chess clubs and extracurricular activities for students to help provide them with mind
stimulating programs, as well as working with athletes between the ages of ten and nineteen as a baseball coach.
I substituted for three years in the Wylie ISD and was then offered a position as the technology teacher and instructional
aide at Draper Intermediate School. Once offered this position, I found that I truly enjoyed working with students
in a classroom atmosphere. I then enrolled in the Texas Teachers program and will fulfill all of the requirements at the end
of the 2009-10 academic year. I am now the 8th grade science teacher and football coach at McDonald Middle School,
and I will be the pitching and catching coach for North Mesquite High School this spring.
I realize that this
journey is just beginning and I look forward to what's next. Take care, and I will update soon.