Think back to your greatest achievement. Earning a scholarship, receiving a high school diploma, giving back to the community, overcoming adversity, or receiving that acceptance letter to your future alma mater. Whatever it may be, I want to say congratulations. It may be late, but it’s never too late to share a perspective. A perspective that doesn’t water-down your achievements, yet explains them. We often don’t see what’s behind our achievements and happiness until we have to say our last goodbyes.
Let me introduce to you, Chris Paul.
The best and worst days of his life, came on back to back days. During his Senior year of high school, just before the start of the basketball season, Chris committed to Wake Forest to continue his playing career. He was staying within the state he grew up in to be by his grandfather’s side. On that commitment day, his grandfather passed the Wake Forest hat on his head to Chris, which symbolized the impact that he had on Chris. His grandfather was his biggest fan, and a local service station owner who would close his shop early in order to get to Chris’s games on time. He never missed a game. Little did they know that Chris’s commitment day would be the last time that they would be together.
While watching his high school football team play, Chris heard news that his grandfather was murdered. There was no way to get him back, but Chris had a plan. During that first game of the high school season, Chris wanted to score 61 points in honor of each year that his grandfather lived. No one in the stands knew this mission until he did it. With a handful of minutes left in the game Chris was fouled while making the shot to reach 61 points. He purposely air balled the free throw. Despite being only 6 points away from beating the all-time state record for most points in a single game, Chris wasn’t interested. His grandfather’s honor was more important. After that free throw he walked off the court crying into his dad’s arms. That is what it is all about.
His special playing abilities were just beginning. Now an NBA superstar seen winning awards year in and year out. Since being drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005, Chris Paul has turned himself into a Superstar on the court. Listed are some of his noted achievements:
- NBA Rookie of the Year Award
- All Star Game MVP
- Two Olympic Gold Medals
- Led the NBA in assists 4 times
- Led the NBA in steals 6 times
- Selected to 9 All-Star teams
- Selected to 8 All-NBA teams
- Selected to 9 All-NBA defensive teams
These awards are line him up to be one of the most decorated point guards of all time, yet his character awarded him the highest honor of them all, The 2016 Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award. An award revealing that he was truly build off the morals of his grandfather. He has donated 1 million dollars to the Boys and Girls Club which provided fair play for kids in lesser neighborhoods. Each year he provides one full athletic scholarship and one full academic scholarship to two students who need the funding while attending Wake Forest University. His selfless actions and leadership has made him a popular NBA superstar, even starring in the famous State Farm commercials. Every step of the way, his grandfather was watching.
Chris’s journey has provided us many important lessons such as that we don’t become our full potential, until we give back what we receive. As we head home for the holiday’s right around the corner, we must make sure to embrace the ones that built us. There came a point in life, say senior year, that we were eager to leave home. Now, we seem to be eager to go back. I guarantee that we all will look at home in a different way upon our returns. We will notice the people, maybe our dogs, more so than the high school drama that we were once surrounded with. That’s how it should be. This holiday season be grateful for the deserved break, food, and relaxation, but more so for the people that make you who you are.
