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Editorial: Spotlight small-town values
Op-Ed · January 28, 2016
Cooper Koenig will step onto a bigger stage.
We hope he makes the most of it, not only using his skills for success on the field, but to share small-town values.
In this week’s sports section you will see West Branch High School senior Cooper Koenig’s story about signing to compete for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes’ men’s track team. Koenig broke the school record for the long jump early in his junior year and kept extending his distance as the season went on. His coach fully expects him to keep doing that when practice starts again in February. The Hawkeyes want Koenig for the long jump, as well as the triple jump, an event the does not exist in Iowa high school track.
Yet we want to focus on the spotlight, and how to use it to influence the world for the better.
Koenig is not the first Bear to sign to play in college, and not the first to earn a scholarship. Many WBHS athletes and academics — a lot are both — will go on to great things, and somewhere along their journeys people will ask them questions: How did you get to where you are today? What’s your background? What does it take to achieve success?
The lessons of success — hard work, discipline, faith, teamwork, sacrifice, accountability, setting goals — are frequently repeated by good parents and coaches and teachers in small towns and, if practiced by more people, will make the world a better place.
Recognize opportunities whether the questions come from reporters, friends, fans, roommates, classmates or colleagues. Successful people carry greater influence.
The spotlight can also be a tool. Prepare your answers now. Practice them. Be ready and tell them about small-town values.
Don’t just bask in the spotlight. Use it.
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