Tiger seniors give back on senior day

HEMINGWAY—For seniors of the Hemingway Tigers high school football team, last Friday was extra special. It was a time to take pause and enjoy the successes of what has been a very good regular season and savor the special memories from the last four years.

At 9-1 this season, following their Friday nigh win against Lake View, this years senior class improved to an overall record of 38-18 during their time at HHS. Needless to say, the Tigers have had a lot to be proud of are posed for a solid playoff run. But how did the seniors celebrate this success the morning before the final game of the regular season?

By talking with grade school kids at Hemingway Elementary.

All 16 seniors continued a program that is in its second year under the leadership of HES Guidance Counselor Dr. Marty Avant. Avant, who also works as the Tiger’s defensive coordinator, started the program of bringing in football team members to talk with and read to the younger students. He calls it “symmetrical learning.”

“The athletes are getting something by coming,” Avant said. “But the elementary kids are getting something (as well), so it’s two way.”

The players arrived at the middle school around 7:45am, gathering in the conference room just off the main office to receive a schedule with room and topic assignments. Each player was then sent to their assigned room and talked with kids about the importance of education and how various attributes could help them achieve all their goals.
“You go in and tell them what that one word means to you,” Avant said before his players departed. “And how your academics (are) the first things you should be focused on. Your athletics should be second…Give them something they can relate to, that’s what it’s all about…your primary mission is to make a difference.”

Many of the players choose to get more involved with the students, pulling them from their seats to help answer questions and role play various situations related to the assigned topic.

Topics discussed included the importance of self-discipline, respect, responsibility, compassion and perseverance.
Justin McGill, a senior lineman, shared some of his personal experiences from grade school with students to teach them the valuable lesson of telling the truth.

“My mama told me when I was younger,” McGill said during his talk with Ms. Simmon’s fourth grade class. “You might get away with (something) now, but its eventually going to creep back up on you.”

McGill, who has participated in the program before, said talking in front of younger students can be a little nerve racking the first time, but once someone realizes how well behaved the students at HES are, things get easier.

“When its your first time talking to a group of little kids, yeah, its kind of tough,” he said. “But I love to see them do better and make sure they get it right… It shows how the teachers at the elementary school have done a great job with teaching the children to have respect for their elders and visitors.”

Fellow senior Akeem Brayboy didn’t seem to have any problem getting up in front of the students his first time out. He energized the students by getting them involved in the lesson, trading jokes with the teacher and passing out candy for correct answers. 

“I just like talking in front of kids,” Brayboy said. “Making them happy. I don’t like seeing people sad and stuff… I love it! I had the kids laughing!””

Avant said the program was started a means of uniting the two schools in Hemingway and building a strong bond between two generations of Tigers.

“Now we only have one feeder school to the high school,” he said. “What can I do to bridge and bring these two schools together? We’re all one extended family.”

Using the athletes as role models isn’t a difficult thing to do. With football receiving as much attention as it does in the area, most of the players are turned into instant celebrities. The mentoring program allows younger students the opportunity to identify with the players when they hear them telling stories about when they were their age.
“If you see someone doing good, playing football, you’re going to want to follow in their steps, right?” Brayboy said. “Education is the main thing. Too many people fail.”