One Team, One Goal

Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:58:46 +0000

After a shaky start, the varsity football team looks forward to a strong season as they rely on the leadership of the seniors.
“[I’m looking forward to] a district championship and a state championship,” Coach James Garfield said. “[And] kids playing hard and doing what is right all the time.”
Rider lost many key seniors this year, including four division one athletes, due to graduation.
“It happens every year,” Garfield said. “The dynamic of every team is different, therefore, you have plans and adjustments in place before the senior class reaches their senior year.”
Garfield said the difference between this year’s team and last is team cohesiveness.
“Both teams were very close, the thing about this years group is a ‘workman’ type attitude,” Garfield said. “This is the kind of team that puts on their hard hat and brings their lunch pail.”
Garfield’s personal goals include being a leader not only to the team, but also to the school.
“I would hope that the love I have for the game would come through and the players would see it,” Garfield said. “If a player does something that may be detrimental to our team chemistry then we will handle it with some type of punishment.”
Senior Zach Apperson looks forward to playing in December.
“We are a team,” Apperson said. “It’s not just about any one player, offense, defense, or who is going where, it’s about Rider Raider football as a whole.”
As he does his job, makes plays, and tries to keep everyone’s head up, Apperson said he will contribute to the team.
“[This team relies on] unity and heart,” Apperson said. “We have already gone through a tough season so far and we have worked extremely hard for all of this, now its just time to let everything fall into place.”
Apperson said the coaching staff is very motivational and would do anything for a win.
“Leadership is extremely difficult, sometimes you may have to do or say something you don’t want to do,” Garfield said. “The team is more important than the individual.”

Very Little, Yet So Much

Editor-in-Chief — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:26:21 +0000

I felt like a celebrity as I drove through the villages in Uganda. Kids ran to the side of the road flailing their arms and waving while yelling “Mzungus!”, which means white people. I waved back and received a smile worth the long flight, jet lag, and uncomfortable situations.
Through all the troubles, pain, death, and all their young eyes have seen, their smiles stick out and show true happiness. The kind of happiness we dream about having.
After the long wait, we finally made it to the first orphanage we would be working with. As soon as we walked through the gate, the kids screamed and ran to us as if we were Miley Cyrus or Zac Efron.
My eyes landed on a soccer ball, and I was ready to play some African children in soccer. As I continued to play around, somehow I was drawn to this certain boy, and in no time I was able to bond with him. His name was Jovan. At just 13 he was already a leader to the other children.
We moved to the noisy porch and took a seat. Kids scattered by, playing with the other members of the group. I got an awkward feeling, but before I could say anything Jovan asked his first question.
“Tell me about America,” he said.
I didn’t know how to answer… Coming off like a bragging, boastful American was the last thing I wanted to do.
After a bit of contemplation, I told him about the heat and cold. I think it was a completely stupid response, but he was as interested as anyone has ever been toward anything I had to say.
“How about the sports? And school? Your friends?”
Question after question he kept surprising me. Why did this African boy care so much about me? Shouldn’t I be the one asking the questions?
Confused, I kept on answering, keeping the conversation flowing.
Time flew. I spent most of my time with Jovan who easily accepted my friendship.
The next day I was as excited as I’d been because I would be returning to the orphanage.
However, I was unable to find Jovan, until right before we left.
As we greeted each other and took a picture, he was much quieter than the day before and seemed a bit standoffish. As he took us to our van, he suddenly stopped.
“This is where I say goodbye,” he said.
Animals scurried across the land around us. The African sun beat down on my pale white skin. Dirt rose up because of the children running around.
But none of it mattered.
As I looked into his eyes I could see the emptiness he felt.
He looked away, while moving his head down towards the ground.
I was speechless. This was goodbye.
As I watched him walk back down the dirt road, back to a life full of death, pain, and terror, I wish we could trade places just for day.
He deserves that chance. Everyone does.
But is that what’s best for them? In America, we have money, cars, electronics, running water, and etc., but how many of us are truly happy?
The children in that orphanage don’t have anything close to what we have been given, but they are truly happy.
While we whine about our food getting messed up, not getting the right car, and slow internet connection, those kids in Africa are content with being alive.

The Rider Chronicle » Michael Johnson

One Team, One Goal

Very Little, Yet So Much