MONTHLY SPOTLIGHTS

William Learning to be a Team Player

William is an 11 year-old 5th grader at F.C. Reed Middle School in Bridgman. William started coming to the Club last year, saying, “I thought the Club looked cool so I decided to give it a chance. I thought that it was cool that there was a place inside of our school that we could go to after school and hangout with friends and play sports.It turns out that the Club is so much more than just a place to go and hang out.”

When asked what he would be doing if he wasn’t coming to the Club William replied by saying, “If i wasn’t attending the Club, I would be going over to my grandma's house with my sister until my parents get off work. Sometimes my cousins would be there, too, and we can play sports outside; but if they’re not, I would just have to play outside by myself. Since I’ve been coming to the Club I have been able to play more team sports and get actual games going in basketball, football, soccer and others. As a result of this I have noticed myself becoming more athletic and building my skills set. When we play games, we try to get everyone involved that wants to play and that has helped me get to know more people.”

William continued by saying, “Since becoming a member of the Club, I have noticed a change in my academic performance. Before I didn’t always complete my homework on a nightly basis because I was too busy playing and not focused on getting it done. Now, because of the Club, I’m able to get it all done before I get home each night and when I get stuck on a question the Club staff is always there to help me find the answer.”

Since joining the Club William has taken full advantage of what the Club has to offer, not just sports and Power Hour (focused academic time). William has been an active member participating in several Club programs such as Jr. Youth of the Year, Torch Club and Tour Committee. According to William, Jr. Youth of the Year has been his favorite and he’s even ran for the title two years in a row. He had this to say about his experience, “Jr. Youth of the Year is a challenging program but it’s also a lot of fun and we get to do a lot of things that other members don’t get to experience. I was super nervous to give my speech but I leaned on my past experience and once I started I knew that I was ready!”

When it comes to the future, William already has a plan for how he’s going to create a Great Future for himself. He plans on attending Michigan State University to obtain a degree in sports management while playing baseball. His ultimate dream is to eventually play in the MLB for his favorite team, the Detroit Tigers. Stay tuned to continue following William as he chases his dreams.