Reading is everything!

The other day as I was working with a young kid from a rough neighboorhood of north minneapolis, a positive thing happened. It started with a franic phone call from his mother the night before. She was explaining to me that her child, who I have been working with the last few months as a volunteer mentor- was not reading his homework at night and getting notes sent home from school. This kid is in 6th grade, and a wonderful athlete. The story continues, this kid was not going to read he told his teacher and his mother. I picked him up, and instead of heading to the park to shoot hoops, and work on his life skills right there, we went to the library. His mood changed just like that. We walked into the library and found a safe place to talk in the back. He is giving me this tough, look! I told him to go pick out any book, know matter where it was, it had to be a book, then return back to me. After 5 minuets, he returned and came back with his choice of the book. The book was a fantasy, science fiction book. I then asked him to read me the first chapter, he complied. I know how to read tod, come on man he replied! I said, then why are you not reading your homework book at night. He replies, because I am one of three kids in my class who can actually read loud enough, and good enough, that I don't want to be called on by the teacher. That made perfect sense, I smiled and told him I appreciate your honesty. But, if your on the b-ball court, and your the only one who can make baskets, are you going to purposely miss the basket or not take shots, or not play for your team? Response, hell no! Ok buddy, heck no, but do you get my drift? Yes, he replies. It is a gift that you are a good reader, and positve speaker. Be proud of your intelligence, and let your peers see  how they too can enjoy reading at a positve level. He then began to read the next chapter. The next night his mother called me and asked what did I do? She replies that he brought three extra books home from the school library. Stay in your health, stay in the moment.