Kenneth Brian Elmes Jr.
Age: 13
Van Wyck Junior High School
Wappingers Falls, NY

Hi, my name is Kenneth Brian Elmes, Jr. When I began attending school in kindergarten I always felt different that the other children. I found that I could not sit still for more that a few minutes and I had trouble paying attention to what the teacher was saying. In the first grade the kids would make fun of me and call me names like "stupid" because I didn't quite understand what seemed to come so easily for other children.

Eventually my mom had me tested and the doctors said I had Attention Deficit Disorder. My mom and dad saw that I had energy to spare, which is part of ADD, so they decided to enroll me in the East Fishkill Soccer League. They reasoned that soccer would be the best sport for me to channel all that excess energy into, since you are always moving, unlike baseball or basketball where you may be waiting on the bench for a while before you have a chance to play.

Right from the beginning I loved soccer. For the first time the kids said nice things to me, patted me on the back, encouraged me and "needed" me as part of their team to succeed. My coach was constantly rewarding me with praise and complimenting my athletic skills. I was good at something.

Consequently, my grades in school went up. When I approached my schoolwork I now approached it with the same mentality I used in soccer; eye on the goal. I gained the confidence and self-esteem to know that I can do anything I put my mind to and that I was good person and I did have selfworth inside of the classroom as well as on the field.
When I was 9 years old I began to play football in the Southern Dutchess Pop Warner league. There I found the sport I have grown to truly love. Discipline, loyalty and dedication are the name of the game in football as well as life. Every coach I've had treated me like I was special and so very important to that team. My teammates were always supportive and we became like a little family. I've always hated to see football season end.

I have never been more proud than when I was awarded the Academic Achievement Award at our Pop Warner awards ceremonies. You must maintain an average of 90 and over for the gold award and 85 and over for the silver. Each year when my coach called my name to come up and receive my trophy and my academic award I felt as if my heart would burst.

Through sports I have learned that you cannot let other people put a limit on what you can do. Deep down inside every person has something they were meant to do and something that they are good at, no matter if that something is athletics or art or writing...anything.

Nowadays I am playing football for my school and I love it. I also have joined the wrestling team and am looking forward to skiing with the school ski club this winter. Sports definitely can expand your horizons! I won't say that I do not still struggle with school, because with ADD everyday is a challenge to stay focused. It certainly is an added incentive that you must maintain a minimum grade point average to participate in the school athletic programs, and I am ever mindful of that. Sports have taught me the skills I will need to be successful in life and I am so grateful that my parents have given me the opportunities and made the sacrifices so that I will be success.