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Contributed
Just before gift wishes and holiday candy crowd out all other thoughts, students at two district schools will finish the year with an inspiring message from one of Canada’s top athletes.
Mike Jones, three time mountain bike National Champion and former host of the Ride Guide Mountain Bike television show, will visit A.S. Matheson and Glenrosa Elementary this week.
As part of Esteem Team, Jones will share his story to motivate students to set and achieve their goals in sport, career, or other personal dreams.
The Esteem Team is a program of Motivate Canada, a national organization that specializes in the development of programs for youth. Presentations include classroom materials and exercises.
Choosing to have an athlete from the Esteem Team visit A.S. Matheson was a perfect fit with the school theme for Principal Scott Sieben.
“Since we have an Olympic theme of Going for GOLD (Get things done, Only do your best, Learn something new everyday, Do what’s right) it was great that we were able to have an athlete come to our school. I saw a presentation by Charmaine Crooks, former National Team sprinter, quite a few years ago. Esteem Team has a great message. Our hope is that Mike will motivate our students to set goals and strive to do their best.”
From sitting in a high school classroom dreaming of being a competitive mountain biker to making the National Team in 1997, Jones will share his unique story.
“I love mountain biking because it is like a martial art, it blends skill, control, fitness and focus into one effortless flowing motion” says Jones. “I talk about having dreams – and they can be unusual – and pursuing the things that you love to do in life. When you do the things you love to do amazing things can and do happen. I get excited knowing that I can help people turn their dreams and wild ideas into reality!”
More than one million students have seen Esteem Team presentations since the program began in 1994. Although the speakers are successful athletes, their stories highlight challenges and courage that transcend sport making them significant for all students. For example, Mark Hatfield talks about how he was inspired to become a professional football player because of a childhood pledge to his older brother.
When his brother died of a heart condition at 14, Mark worked even harder to reach his goal. He made the university team and wore jersey number 66—the year his brother was born. Hatfield went on to play professionally for the Miami Dolphins, Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions.
Jones will visit A.S. Matheson Elementary School on Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. and Glenrosa Elementary School on Dec. 16 at 12:15 p.m.
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