Columbia International School's MUN kids were going out today at lunchtime. I was contemplating as my cold and everything happening around me was taking a toll on my health. However, I have this thing with kids, clients, and patients alike: once I worked with them, I want them to not only excel but also foster a lifetime of mentorship. So when Robert Lo asked me to send them off I did not hesitate at all. It was worth everything as the kids were so happy and ready to take that energy to Canada. Good luck kids! ![]() Afterwards, Robert and I went to lunch at Burger King. And then came a text message from another school: Hangyin High School. Robert casually debriefed me about the school, transitioning quickly into a summary of the school basketball team and stuff. "Seems like the kids lost by 40 something points last night and the whole school student body is...well, apathetic about it." I may have been sick, but my eyes lit up in alert. Anything of this magnitude for a sports team in high school level, especially a private school that takes in students whose SOLE responsibility and learning goal is to play ball, this is a pure no-no. I quickly replied, "They need a pep talk. This is not right." As we walked out of Terminal 1 in the rainy afternoon, we went into his car to travel to the school he talked about. It was a small but seemingly cozy school. As I stepped out into the cold Taoyuan winds, I once again felt the familiar sense of home. As our shoes crushed the wet leaves of the trail, we arrived in a one-story, lighthouse-like structure office. A man and a woman relayed messages. Another young lady in her 20's came in and took us to the gym. The plastic doors of the gym opened quietly.
A tall female coach was at the seats writing off things. We spoke. She explained her mode of coaching and how discipline and attire were of utmost importance to her team. She also told us about the hardware, the team uniform funding, and in general, all kinds of unreasonable cost reduction from the administrative end. As I absorbed the impact of the news. This was all too familiar: lack of direct resources, lack of support from student and school, lack of self-identity. No one understood that better than KLab of Taipei American School 2002-2004. The Hangyin Basketball Team needed a pep talk that their worn-out female coach can not give. So I sat down with the team. I can see the fatigue, disappointment, and pain pervading the atmosphere. I know how it is like to lose, but I also know how it is like to get back up. So I switched my mindset into Chinese and peppered them with questions. 「昨晚打的如何」「輸了很多嗎」「覺得很慘嗎」「以前有這樣輸過嗎」 The answer was a 51-point loss. Their heads were so low you would have thought they were going to kiss the ground. 「我來說一下好了,我以前是陽明醫學系畢業的,但我後來沒有去當醫師,我選擇去當了老師,帶過籃球隊和英文辯論隊。在我教師生涯前期時,我曾經拿著自己的履歷,從XX路一段走到四段到處發履歷,連新店區我都去了,可是我完全沒有得到任何回覆。我曾經有好一陣子都很不爽很失望,甚至想找補習班算帳。但是我後來選擇去檢討自己履歷讓別人兩秒內要有興趣、檢討自己教學方式、等。」 「可是你們跟我不一樣。你們已經很認真了!都有乖乖聽教練的話,好好穿衣服好好調整作息,好好練球,對不對?!」 他們頭稍微抬起來說『對...』 「這表示你們已經比那些自己為自己打球好的球員更懂什麼叫尊重!你們是有價值的國民!有百分之八十的球員做不到你們能作到的!我告訴你,人人進來這個球隊不一定每個人都可以變成職業球員,但這裡人人出去都會是有責任感、能給予貢獻的台灣人!這都是你們教練的努力,才有這樣的今天!」 「我知道學校和學生們或許沒有很支持你們,可是當你們覺得沒有人相信你們的時候,回頭看看你們的教練。看看她盡心盡力的陪著你們想辦法讓你們變強!你們是被信任被肯定的!」 「你們有跟外面某些球隊球員一樣抽菸角檳榔嗎??」 『沒有!』 「那很好!你們已經比很多球隊球員更棒許多,至少50%!」 「你晚上刷牙的時候,鏡子裡頭的那個是誰?」『我自己』 「你信任他嗎?」 『相信』 「對,你要信任自己,信任這個球隊!就算外面整個聲音都是不支持,你們還有這個大家庭。每個人都要拼起來,努力讓船往前走!這就是毅力!」 We ended our pep talk around here and I told them to play to learn and become better. Don't dwell on the losses. There are more losses in life waiting for them. If they can take the losses with their head held high, they can conquer the obstacles of life. Robert and I shot some hoops with the kids for fun. We ended and let them get ready for the evening game against 開南商工. Late evening of the same day, November 2nd 2018, I got excellent news from the Hangyin High School staff. Hangyin defeated Kai-Nan by 6 points. I trembled violently as I looked at my phone. The kids believed in what I said and most importantly, in themselves. I know it is the beginning of a long tough journey. Thanks to Robert, hopefully, they will be getting a much-needed boost on all fronts. Good job. #漢英高中 #籃球隊
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