Editorial:   Get Out Seniors!!!

A third season has been covered by Under The Radar NWLA and we have been through some fantastic stories throughout this year.  The Homer Pelicans won their first football title in 82 years.  Gibsland-Coleman Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs had a year you could only dream about.  The Lady Bulldogs took state runner-up in basketball and a state championship in track and field.  The Bulldogs took the state championship in basketball and state runner-up in track and field.   Calvary proved anything with a diamond equaled baseball and softball state championship.   We saw individuals such as Tyrin Cunningham from Ringgold become back-to-back powerlifting champ.  Ke’Honesty Williams reached back to back outstanding athletes for Gibsland-Coleman sharing the title with teammate Samora Sampson.  Izayla Harris from Doyline dominated Class B and took home an outstanding athlete in Baton Rouge.  Northwest Lousiana shouted loud and proud.  What a year!!!!

I’ll admit I’m no graduation speaker or great writer, but I’d like to bestow a little knowledge on you outgoing seniors.  I am a Christian and have been for the past 17 years.  I grew up in church and was always part of a youth group, but when I started working at Piggly Wiggly my senior year and then college it became a slow fade away from the church. Nothing insidious happened, just life.  I didn’t start going back until after I was married and had kids.  I now teach a college and career Sunday School Class at Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City.  Hint…hint…to those that are making their way to BPCC, LSUS, Centenary, or SUSLA.  All that to say is growing up, I learned a Bible verse at a church camp called Acts 1:8.  I have always been fascinated with this verse and it become a life verse for me.   An interesting point about this verse is this is the last thing that Jesus says to the disciples as he is ascending into Heaven.  He’s saying to them to carry His message throughout Jerusalem (their hometown), Judea (parish or region of the state), the ends of the earth (self-explanatory), and Samaria (people and places that you may not necessarily want to go).  

I’m not going to preach but so encourage you to get involved in church organizations if you are not in one.  I’ve got some words for you student-athletes that can be applied.  

Be Proud Where You Come From (Jerusalem)

If you don’t know, I graduated from Doyline High School in 1990 (yes that is a 1 and 9 as the first two numbers).  I have always been a proud Panther and even before I started this website.  I played basketball for 3 years and track for 1 year.  I was not a star and a third-string bench player.  Track,  I ran one race ever.  I was not in the papers.  I still loved my school and my teachers.  Although I didn’t know it at the time, they had as much in the molding of my character as my family. I cherish every person, friend, teacher, and coach, that helped build me into the person that I am.  Was I ready to leave Doyline when I graduated?  Yes!!! I knew there was more for me.  I’ve lived in Natchitoches, Bossier City, Denver, and Shreveport.  Still love those Panthers and Doyline.  I wanted to give back to my community.  Regardless of your view of your school right now around graduation, your hometown will celebrate when you succeed even outside of graduation.  They are the people you may have known all your life and who gave advice that shaped who you are.  Also, remember one thing about your school.  Many of you attend a 6-12 or K-12 school, you have an impact on those that are younger than you.   Sometimes those kids will listen to you more than the adults although you are giving the same message.   

Love The Area Of The Country  (Judea)

Once I graduated, college was my next step.  I graduated as I say as a Demon Bulldog Pilot.  Let me interpret it, I went one semester to Northwestern St., Louisiana Tech for 3 years, and graduated LSUS for one year.  I got a wide variety of people from around the state and country.  The majority was from northwest Louisiana which I knew with spattering from South Louisiana.  So I got out of my community and learned about the Northwest Louisiana region.  There are some wonderful people from this area.  Doyline is great, but college allowed me to get to know people from the Shreveport area, Ruston area, and Natchitoches area.  I learned I had a lot of the same characteristics unique to Northwest Louisiana.   You’ll not only get that with college or whatever you may do outside the high school.  I learned this with a job where I traveled all over the country to places like Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Detroit, Omaha, Dallas, Houston, etc.  One thing I learned was I had an accent.  it made me unique.  I missed the southern hospitality and the friendliness of Northwest Louisiana.  Explore your region and be proud of it.  One thing I’ve learned from this website is how the communities support each other.   Branch out of your community and learn about others.  You guys are the most interconnected generation to other communities.  You know more people outside your community than most of the older generation.  Even express what it’s like to be from Louisiana.  It is a unique culture.  Each section of our state is different from other parts.  Embrace your region and learn from others.  

Learn Abroad (Ends of the World)

If you get a chance, get out and show the world who you are.  I’ve been out of the country once.  My wife had one request for our honeymoon.  It had to require a passport.  Well, she may have thought that it was going to a Caribbean beach, but it was a trip to London and Rome.  Besides, it was our honeymoon, it was a trip that I will never forget.  We got to experience a whole different culture.  They heard our accent and immediately thought we were from Texas.   We experienced Vatican City and spent a day there which is its own country.  The Jubilee procession was occurring and we got to tour St. Peter’s Bascilla and Pope John Paul II was performing a mass.   I’m not Catholic but still was an honor to see.  Some people never get out of their hometowns or state let alone the country, but if you get the opportunity to do it, take it.   Some will get this opportunity with military, jobs, or even school.  Take them.  It’s a learning experience for you and you get to represent what Americans are like. A quick story about Rome. We were walking through the markets and Leigh and I didn’t know a lick of Italian.  I learned “Thank you” in Italian which is “grazie”. I used it in a wine shop and the shopkeeper was jubilant and so helpful just because I tried to speak Italian. That experience has stuck all my life. You may change someone’s perspective about our culture.  They will change your perspective of what we have in our country.  Show them you and what you have to offer.  You could make an impact.  

Overcome Your Hindrances (Samaria)

Jesus threw a curveball in the middle of this verse.   He threw in Samaria.  Samaria was a town that was avoided during the time that this was written.  A straight highway went threw Samaria and most traveling walked around Samaria to get back to the highway.  The equivalent would be to go from Monroe to Shreveport on I-20 and go to Alexandria to avoid going through Ruston.  Nothing against Ruston.  The hindrance for Samaria was a hatred of the people.  What is holding you back?  Sometimes we have to overcome the things we may not like to grow.  Identify those things that are holding us back.  It may be a friend.  It may be a person that hurt us.  It may be a group of people.  If you let that barrier stand, it holds you from growing.  For a friend or a person that hurt you, forgiveness may be needed.  It may not be a two-way street but do your part.  This class has seen a lot of hatred occur in your years of school.  Realize not all people are that way.  You guys have seen a lot of social issues occur that are hard to comprehend.  Be a strong person.  Don’t let your growth stop because of the ignorance of others.   Jesus had the ultimate commandment “Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you all must love one another.” (John 13:34).  Learn from one another.  Ain’t nothing (English teachers calm down) wrong with telling someone you love them.

I have probably way overstepped my bounds and said too much.  If you are not a Christian and my story is offended you, I apologize.  It’s my nature and I love you the same.  What I do with this website is love for each of you who take the time to read this.  I love these kids and looked forward to showing it to more schools next year.  

Seniors,  Love you and thank you for your time and effort to your schools.   Now get out and show the world who you are.