My son's high school soccer team took a field trip today

[ALBliberal]

To an elementary school in a disadvantaged neighborhood in Albuquerque. They collected over 400 books and 100 gym bags and each kindergartener got five books in their own gym bag. The boys read to the kids in small groups and played soccer with them out on the playground. It was something else to see these sweet humble children so overjoyed and in awe of these high school boys. I dare say our soccer boys had an experience they will never forget.

[MineralMan]

1. Nice.

[bigwillq]

2. That's awesome.

[tblue37]

3. To the "Greatest" page with this lovely story! nt

[shenmue]

4. Hooray!

[democrank]

5. Wonderful~

So uplifting!

[KelleyD]

6. How wonderful...anice lesson for the kids about empathy they will carry with throughout their lives!

[Jenoch]

7. That's pretty cool.

I remember beung in awe of the high school athletes when I was a little kid. I had a sister 13 years older than me. She played in the high school band so we went to the home athletic event at which the band played.

[Suich]

8. That's fantastic!

Kudos to the people who came up with the idea in the first place!!!

[SheilaT]

9. How wonderful.

[ReRe]

10. I'd like to give that coach a kiss!

Not a loser anywhere in sight!

[LibDemAlways]

11. So happy to read something positive about

high school kids! Thanks for sharing.

[jwirr]

12. Thanks that gives us all the kind of hope we need. These boys are to be proud of.

[Dont call me Shirley]

13. That is so awesome. Their team could mentor a team from the school. People in ABQ are so

wonderful!

[jtuck004]

14. Man, that would make a great story on CNN. READING to them, like it's

something important, and giving them books, like books had some value, and playing with them. And done by people they look up to, other students in the same position they are (sorry, anyone over 20 and out of school is out of that club, just accept it). That alone will make a lifetime impression, actually demonstrated for them by someone THEY view as a peer.

You know where this world is going if more people go down that path, don't you?

Thank you. And thank those teachers. There really should be a news story on that, in NM, then to youtube. (Or maybe the elementary kids, as a group, could borrow a phone and make a video to say thank you and give them suggestions for next time. Like a hint.).

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Beautiful. There needs to be so much more of this sort of thing.

[NJCher]

16. these soccer players

learned the best lesson ever.

Thanks for posting this. We need to see and hear more about the good side of humans.


Cher

[SoapBox]

17. Wonderful!

Thanks for sharing this story.

[ALBliberal]

18. Your replies are all so kind!

Thank you for your enthusiasm. My son is my youngest child. There has never been a day that has made me more proud of him and his fellow teamates. They enjoyed every minute with these kids. At the end of tne day it was tough to see who benefited more the young men or the children. A win win. I would love to post a picture but i don't know how!

[jen63]

19. Mentoring at it's finest,

for both groups! Thanks for the story.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

20. wonderful! more please!! :) n/t

[NM_Birder]

21. Your son doesn't go to an APS school, or does he ?

[ALBliberal]

23. yes he goes ti Eldorado High School. He is a senior.

[cyberswede]

22. That's great - for both the younger and older kids!

By the way...what position does your son play? My 8th grader is playing soccer for the first time this year - he's the keeper and loves it.

[ALBliberal]

24. my son plays center midfielder and loves that

Last edited Fri Oct 24, 2014, 02:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Keeper is tough takes a.stong kid has to be mentally tough

[cyberswede]

29. His teammates have said he's pretty good...

but it's his first year. He'll be old enough for high school ball next year - no idea if he'll be capable of that. He is big though (6'2", 230 at age 14) - his height and reach have helped with some saves.

Glad your son loves his position - and glad he got to participate in that excellent reading activity!

[FailureToCommunicate]

25. Great lesson beyong the sport. Reminds me of this powerful scene...

from "Invictus"

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zH57XU378EI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[PasadenaTrudy]

26. That's so nice to hear!

I hear so much news about crime in ABQ, it's nice to hear a good story. I'll be there in a couple weeks for the Breaking Bad fan fest, speaking of (fictional) crime

[VA_Jill]

27. That's so cool

I really like it when teams do service projects like this. I wish more high school teams would. At the University of Tennessee one of the things stressed by Pat Summitt when she was women's basketball coach was community service, and the Lady Vols team and coaches were always involved in Habitat for Humanity. They still are now that Pat has retired, and they seem to enjoy it very much.

[handmade34]

28. give him a hug for me!!

[Wheezy]

30. I love this story

very much. Thank you for sharing it!

[NotHardly]

31. If funding were equally distributed throughout a district...

... there would be no need for privileged to visit underprivileged for their feel good moment. Reminds me of the stories about the some lovely old 19th and 20th century books that told about how after church the well off folks would go tour poor town so they could feel better about themselves.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

32. Killjoy

You're right, that we need better school funding.

However, until there are no poor left, people will still do these things, and I think that's a good thing. Even if the school had great funding, you can still give children book bags and books for personal use.

[ALBliberal]

35. our own neighborhood is not affluent our high school receives 40% free lunch

But I don't see it so much as a rich/poor situation. I see it as a lesson in helping others. Everone needs a little help sometimes.

[Liberal_in_LA]

33. that's wonderful

[lovemydog]

34. I love good news and that's great news.

Thanks for sharing ALBliberal!