Butterflies and Helicopters
July 9, 2014
I’m doing as much as I know how to attract butterflies to my garden. For example, I’ve planted a butterfly bush and milkweed plants. I do this because these plants are supposed to attract butterflies and bees, and I know butterflies and bees are essential to producing vegetables.
One of the greatest miracles any person can observe is to watch a butterfly emerge from a cocoon. It was as wondrous to me last summer as the first time I saw it occur when I was a young child, when I first saw a butterfly emerge with damp, shriveled wings.
I was told then that we shouldn’t interfere, that we shouldn’t help the butterfly escape the cocoon and shouldn’t help spread the wings. We had to let the butterfly struggle. We were instructed that the struggle would give strength to the wings, and that would be essential to the butterfly’s survival.
Childhood is much like this, but too often helicopter parents intervene and interfere with the growth process and, ultimately, weaken their children’s ability to fend for themselves, to overcome adversity and to take flight.
Helicopter parents endanger our butterfly children.
New Legacies
September 30, 2015
For nearly two dozen years, the MHSAA has conducted its “Legacy” program through which high school students are welcomed into high school sports officiating and mentored by approved MHSAA officials. This has given these students a jump start in officiating and in life. For example ...
- Zach Kemp and Aaron Wieber, both honored as legacy officials in 1992, are now NCAA officials in football and basketball, respectively.
- Brent Sorg, 1993, is now the soccer coach at Williamston High School and a former MLS soccer official.
- Dan Carmichael, also 1993, has worked MHSAA Finals in both basketball and football.
- Bill Parker, 1994, has umpired both Minor League baseball and MHSAA Baseball Finals.
- Carmen Kennedy, also 1994, is principal at St. Clair Shores South Lake High School and serves on the MHSAA Representative Council.
- Matt McDermott, 1995, has officiated MHSAA Finals in both football and basketball, and has been a longtime NCAA basketball official.
- Ryan Negoshian, also 1995, has officiated MHSAA Softball Finals.
- Jeremy Valentine, 1998, has worked the MHSAA Football Finals and an NCAA Division II National Championship game.
- Jon Studley, 1999, is now athletic director at Caro High School.
- Nathan Taylor, 2000, has worked MHSAA Finals in both football and basketball.
- Sara Tisdale, also 2000, worked MHSAA Finals in volleyball and she’s now a college lacrosse coach.
That’s just a dozen examples from the Legacy program’s first decade, making a difference in Michigan schools and sports. Adding to the pleasure of living in Michigan and loving school sports.