Last night I had the privilege of attending the local High School Football Banquet with one of my sons and his family. His 2 boys are on the team. I was a high school team physician for almost 20 years, never at this school, and I have always enjoyed these events. They are a salute to high school boys; boys who deserve and need to be saluted.
Society has a thing about teen boys: They can’t be trusted, they use drugs and alcohol, they cause endless trouble, and they should be ignored until they”grow-up”. My decades of taking care of the health needs of teens, both male and female, tells me just the opposite. They are a wonderful group of people who need to be respected, mentored, educated, heard, and most of all, loved.
Back to the banquette, each boy was introduced to the audience and each of the seniors was recognized for his contributions to the team, the school and the community. My graduating, senior grandson, was not a starter, but he was lauded for his leadership and his role in preparing the team for Friday night “under the lights”. In addition his acceptance to West Point was announced as being “no surprise to any of the coaching staff.” He stood on the stage accepting the well deserved praise while my son, daughter-in-law, wife, and I were bursting with pride as were his brother, his sister, and his girlfriend. What a man he has become.
High schoolfootball banquets are a great send-off for a wonderful bunch of kids. May God continue to bless everyone of them!