Many Faces, Many Places

Are you a character mentor? As you think about that question for a moment, isolate your response by knowing I’m not asking what you did or currently do professionally.

Clearly, character mentors are camouflaged in our society. They are parents, grandparents and volunteers. And, yes, they are teachers, coaches, business professionals, doctors, technicians, retail employees and blue collar workers.

Whether in the classroom, the gym, at home, in the office or in the Board Room, character mentors share a common way of relating to their world. They consciously carry a set of positive, life-enhancing values and they are committed to finding appropriate moments to share them with the young people in their life whom they love and care about.

Awhile back I observed a character mentor as I watched the USC Trojans basketball team play the Oregon Ducks for the Pac-10 Conference Title. Coach Henry Bibby was the character mentor. He benched one of his best players during the second half of the game because he saw a selfish attitude in his play. Bibby’s decision may have cost the Trojans the game.

Following the loss Bibby met the press and was pointedly asked why he pulled his player. He said that Trojan basketball is not about any one player; it’s about the team’s play. When challenged about possibly losing the game because of his decision, Bibby responded commenting that he made his decision for the team, its foundation for play and for how his team will perform in future years.

One player, who will return to the team next year said, “Coach always has a reason for what he does.”

I call this coach’s decision the actions of a character mentor. In the heat of competition, where winning this game meant the opportunity to be seeded into the upcoming NCAA tournament, Bibby saw two choices&possible short term gain vs. long-term life values education for the kids he coaches. He chose life values education. I salute him.

Character mentors don’t back away from character education moments as they keep their eye on the prize&building Kids of Character for the 21st century.

Russ Williams Passkeys Organization

– Russ Williams