How I Became a More Patient Teacher
37-member golf team which was part of 440 members of Team USA, you have never traveled! What an incredible experience – the most wonderful of my life (so far).
We traveled for 14 hours via D.O. Defense jet to the Isle of Rhodes from Baltimore, where we spent four days to acclimate to time and weather. Our flight out of Baltimore was delayed for five hours. This is where I learned their gift of patience. While most of us coaches were fretting and pacing, these athletes were calm as cucumbers. In various nooks and crannies of
Since 2003, I have been involved with the Special Olympics golf program in the Eugene/Springfield (Oregon) area, first as a volunteer, then as an assistant coach before stepping into the head coach position in 2004. I cannot express the joy and love I have been given by these athletes. More importantly, they taught me patience.
The golfers in our program are ages 9-68, male and female, big and small. Most of them are only able to compete at Level 1, which is the skills competition. They are scored on five basic shots – putting, chipping, pitching, woods, and irons, five balls each. These are the hardest working golfers I have ever coached. They practice every week on each shot without question or complaint. Any improvement to them is a great joy. The smallest suggestion from any of our coaches is met with, “Thanks Coach,” followed by a high-five or a hug. When was the last time one of your students hugged you? Their joy is genuine, and their commitment to improvement unparalleled.
My greater patience comes from helping them over the years. For most of these golfers, it’s not about handicaps, 300-yard drives or Phil’s flop shots. It’s simply learning to hit the ball. Making a six-foot putt gives them and me a joyous experience. My attitude and approach to my own game has changed. If they can find happiness in simply being on the course, so can I.
My biggest lesson came last summer (2011) when I was selected to be a coach for Team USA Golf. We were headed for the Summer Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece. If you have never traveled with a 37-member golf team which was part of 440 members of Team USA, you have never traveled! What an incredible experience – the most wonderful of my life (so far).
We traveled for 14 hours via D.O. Defense jet to the Isle of Rhodes from Baltimore, where we spent four days to acclimate to time and weather. Our flight out of Baltimore was delayed for five hours. This is where I learned their gift of patience. While most of us coaches were fretting and pacing, these athletes were calm as cucumbers. In various nooks and crannies of the terminal, there were many activities going on – card games, movies on personal DVDs, books being read, stretching exercises, karate moves being practiced, even a conga line snaking its way around the terminal. My attitude began to change while watching this. If they are not stressed and can “live in the moment,” then why can’t I?
This attitude was again on display on our 17-hour ferry ride from the Isle of Rhodes to the main site in Athens. I have never seen such a bunch of “troopers,” no complaints, no stress, only smiles and enjoyment at a new experience in their lives – and mine.
Once in Athens, we all settled into a routine of breakfast, bus ride to the golf course (Glyfada), practice/play, return to the hotel, relax, have dinner, play games, go to bed, and do it all over the next day.
Team USA golfers finished with eight gold medals, even silver medals, four bronze medals, and four 4th-place ribbons. More importantly, they had the experience of their lives, not to mention the teary eyes of all of us coaches.
There are so many more experiences I can share, but all of them taught me that patience can be our greatest asset as teachers. If you have not had the Special Olympics experience, I advise it highly. The incredible joy, love, and appreciation of these athletes will lift you to a new level in your teaching career.
