TKO:THE KEVIN OPINION – Three Years Later …

KEVIN KONG
Sports Editor

I can honestly say that joining newspaper staff was one of the happiest moments of my freshman year. I can remember the pure ecstasy I felt when I first saw my words reaching thousands of readers. My voice was actually being used as a medium to enhance the bond between the athletics department and the student body. Even now, entering my senior year, I’m still in disbelief. I remember running around, telling people to read my article for critiques. It was then that I encountered someone who was … less than pleasant.

This particular person was quite blunt and asked, “Why are you writing for the Sports page? People who read the newspaper don’t like sports and athletes don’t even care about school.” Looking back, I am embarrassed that I didn’t speak up. At this point in my journalism career, I have interviewed nearly 100 players and coaches, all from different backgrounds and teams. Maybe it’s just the outspokenness that I have developed, but I feel obligated to write my feelings. In no way have I ever gotten the impression that scholars and athletes are mutually exclusive titles. For someone to generalize a population of the student body because of their interests is just narrow-minded.

To that one person who left me speechless, I’m sure that you wouldn’t appreciate someone stereotyping you based on your extracurriculars. Maybe you were bitter after having been judged because you were in soand- so club, but in no way does that give you the permission to do the same to someone else by generalizing athletes to have one identity and one mind-set. I am not an athlete, but I have talked to enough of them to know that each has a sense of individuality.

Now, with pen in hand, I have decided to use this opportunity to be the voice of the people. As sports editor, not only do I have the responsibility to acquire facts from the athletic teams, but more importantly I have the moral obligation to speak up when I see something unjust. What I took away from this experience is that we can’t rely on others’ opinions to guide us, especially if they try to discourage us from doing something we have a passion in.

So go ahead. High school is a time to work hard, but it’s also a time to find a way to express yourself as you prepare for an upcoming odyssey — adulthood. If you find a means of euphoria through sports, then pick up the ball, the racket, the bat, whatever. Just don’t let anyone stop you from being … you.