Overcoming Expectations
I’m coaching a boys’ basketball team this year, and when I was talking to the league director before the season started, he said, “The awards are what you make of them. If you make them a big deal, then the kids will treat them like a big deal.” And so I will now work toward making weekly awards a significant part of the season.
When I was in college, I spent a few weeks with some kids at a leadership camp. For those weeks, I was a counselor for 7th grade girls and guys. It was fascinating to watch how their response changed in unison with my response. When I was excited about a game, they were excited about the game. And when I wanted to be done for the afternoon, their excitement level tanked.
A magician provided the entertainment at our staff Christmas luncheon today. I was less than enthused at the prospect of a drawn out session with an illusionist and began to mutter comments about my low level of interest. I stopped, though.
The illusionist was fascinating, especially his trick regarding tearing newspaper. It was amazing to watch my eyes and mind get completely caught up with this illusion. And everything I saw told me that what he was doing was real. And in spite of my negative expectations, I was genuinely pleased and entertained by his show.
I don’t normally get excited about giving weekly awards; nor am I excited to scream and chant camp songs to encourage kids to play their best. I am oftentimes more interested in doing something other than what is prescribed for me.
But in all of the above cases, overcoming my initial (and wrong) expectations allowed me to discover things I never saw before: a bunch of boys, excited to get a green star after practice; a group of kids who seemed to have the most fun while getting creamed playing kickball; or even myself, learning that programs can be entertaining and educational.
If I sat mired in my expectation, I would have missed out on so much of life. I hope that my expectations don’t preclude me from trying new things or being a negative influence regarding good things.