Alief ISD Winter 2024

PREGAME

Dream Big and Great Things Will Happen Billie Jean King, former #1 world tennis player once said, “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” The trajectory to a successful life isn’t always linear. There are crooked roads, hills and valleys; but if you fight hard enough; if you dream big enough; you will get there. Many athletes grew up poor and have gone on to be extremely successful. Cristiano Ronaldo, world famous soccer star, was born in a poor neighborhood in Portugal. Jose Aldo, renowned UFC fighter, was born poor in Brazil and Kassim Uma, born into extreme poverty in Uganda, was kidnapped at age five and was forced to join the National Resistance Army. Like these three athletes, I too was born poor. I was working hard living on a farm in middle school and high school. We were not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but what I lacked in riches, I made up for with my talent; a talent that was cultivated in public schools. I was a football player in middle school and then in high school for two years before transitioning into fine arts through the band program. I learned the importance of teamwork and how to work with people from various backgrounds,

along with time management, goal setting, public speaking, and effective communication. I couldn’t procrastinate or be lazy in practice because it didn’t just affect me; it affected my entire team. I made sure every time I stepped foot on the field, I was showing up as my very best self. My team and I pushed each other to do more and be more than the status quo. It wasn’t just good enough to be a great athlete or band member; we needed the grades to back it up. And back it up we did. With the support of my teachers and coaches and of course my family, I was able to take those skills honed through extracurricular activities to earn scholarships and financial aid to afford college. I know that had it not been for the support of those that loved and cared for me, that I would not be where I am today. Students come from all walks of life. They may be poor; couch-surfing from place to place with the only hot meal coming from the school cafeteria or from an affluent background in a gated community; it doesn’t matter. Every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves a quality education and access to extracurricular activities. I can speak wholeheartedly to how much of an impact extracurricular activities made on my life and in the life of my daughter, who was an avid soccer player and now a high school English teacher. My parents valued education and though they didn’t have much financially to contribute, that didn’t stop them from supporting me and my siblings as best as they could. I encourage every parent, grandparent, and community member to continue to show their support for public education. The more we invest in our children, the better our world will be for future generations. It doesn’t matter where you come from but rather where you are going. Shoot for the stars and value the team. Thank you, Alief ISD community, for always supporting our students and staff. We encourage you to continue to show up for our students at every opportunity possible.

Thank you for being Alief Proud! Charles Woods Alief ISD Deputy Supt of Business Services, Alief ISD

ISD Board of Trustees

Secretary

President

DR. LILY TRUONG Vice-President

JENNIFER KEY

DR. GREGG PATRICK Assistant Secretary

DR. DARLENE BREAUX

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

RICK MORENO

ANN WILLIAMS

JANET SPURLOCK

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