Have you considered donating your time to help underprivileged kids?

[lightbulb27]

I saw clear "disadvantage" between girls high school basketball teams recently... one set of kids had the $ for after school basketball camps. They get discipline and training... coaching, practice, and challenged. Probably better diets.

The other kids don't have that, are out of shape, chubby and show signs of poor motor skills I'd relate to diets. These kids were from a "rougher" area, poorer area, with a lot of "projects".

All assumptions, not facts yet. Made me sad to see it, the kids trying so hard and yet, they don't have the resources and chance of the others.

Made me think of volunteering to help them... trouble is, I don't know basketball that well.

...

I see the value of sports and after school programs to save our country. It's the one place I've seen where kids can get yelled at, pushed, progres, overcome obstacles, discipline, and learn. Beyond that, it's the military. I see value in getting kids.. most of them, into after school sports programs!

yes, I do and it's...

yes, but

no, because

Updates

+1 y

what I was was girls b-ball, the photo is just general from a boys camp... can't change.

[TenderFantasy]

Nah.

I never did any sports in high school and I turned out well, at least in my view.

In high school I was thinking of trying out for the girl's basketball team but I was very shy and at 5'2 and a minority, I didn't really think I had a chance!

I was never really a sporty woman growing up honestly. I don't know why. Maybe it was my fear. I was scared of a lot of things growing up. I don't mean like the boogie man or monsters in my closet type of thing, but just what people would think. I truly (and sadly), looked up to those who were more popular than I was and DREAMED of one day becoming 'one of them'! Pathetic wasn't I? Lol.

I was unfortunately part of the, maybe not loser crowd but I certainly wasn't a cheerleader. In many ways, I'm kinda thankful because those days, the skirts of the cheerleaders were already VERY short and skimpy that, unless they were on strict birth control, it was just a matter of time before any one of them was GUARANTEED to become pregnant lol. All those cheers where they put one of their legs up and shake their pom poms or several girls would form pyramids and a perverted lucky male cheerleader would be on the bottom lol. So funny.

[Msputiton]

I graduated and finishing my senior year season up once it's over I will have enough time to do this.

I already reached out to a local AAU coach in an underprivileged area to be a volunteer for his program as an assistant coach.

My goal is to open my own program one day.

And i really want a solid program for girls AAU. (Which is becoming more common, but to many focus more on the boys team) I'm not ready yet to start my own program but I'm working on it.

I want to first study under a very good coach so i can learn the transition from player to coach

[lightbulb27]

good job, great plan! It's where I'm at, I'd like to do that but I need coached.

[Msputiton]

Thank you.
It is a much needed thing for people to show a lot of kids they care.
There is a lot involved in coaching. Anyone can coach but very few can do it well

[lightbulb27]

I suspect it's one of the "low lying fruits" in terms of improving disadvantaged kids reality for the better. When I see why my wife's family turned out so well, it's because of family and community support combined with values.

[Msputiton]

It is a problem. My parnets had 2 drive almost 2hrs one way 3 to 4 days a week to find good trainers that trained girls. Very few parents would be willing to do this.
And kids got nothing keeping them out of trouble. They go searching for it. So sports can help save a a decent amount of kids from doin wrong

[lightbulb27]

wow, yea, that is what makes the difference. there is opportunity, but some people are disconnected. Another one of my theories why so many fail... were in a world of networking. you gotta know someone who knows someone to open doors, and be able to get to the resources.
parents really make the difference most of the time.

[Msputiton]

There are so many different reasons agree. Parents are important and where you grow up has an impact because like you said knowing someone can help.
Money investment as well.
I can say between myself, and my parents. I started playing at 8 taking it seriously around 11.
But if estimated the amount of money we put in during that time to get me a scholarship
With training AAU fees, shoes, hotels for tournaments out of state, gas, hs basketball fees and fundraising in that 9yr journey we spent close to 20 or 30 thousand dollars.

[lightbulb27]

I believe it. That is what it takes to get those "tickets" to college, and you started at a good age. But all that paid for itself since you upped your game!! If you got 4 yr scholarship, that's like...$80,000!
Other sports are even more expensive...
That's the thing, if parents don't encourage and push and guide, most kids won't make it. Not sure how else to do it without strong mentors and support. Money alone won't get the job done...

[Msputiton]

Agree. It's why j chose to use my degree. I get the chance to do what others did for me.
Mentor and help guide children in the right direction

[Msputiton]

I love how you look this.
Too many people ignore this aspect of things and just go.
They should've made better decisions.
But it ain't that simple it's hard to make good decisions without people around you helping you learn them.

[NathanDavis]

lovely, and admirable

[Msputiton]

@NathanDavis 🥰

[lightbulb27]

Thank you!

[SpokenTruth]

I have given it thought in time past however knowing what I know now I wouldn't go near children with the way the world views males as being predators.

[lightbulb27]

I understand that. there are risks and it's a valid point to have proper boundaries and mitigate risks.

[NathanDavis]

yes... I've been a tutor for many years now

as a volunteer, not for hire (except for those rich college kids, when I was in high-school, lol)

[lightbulb27]

awsome!

[SeriouslyFunny00]

I think that's a wonderful idea. 🥳 I just started with a small black board and a chalk before. I have taught children for free before pandemic and was planning to do it again on my vacation. Mostly focusing on reading comprehension and verbal communication. ❤️

[NathanDavis]

knew you were great (=

[lightbulb27]

Excellent! We need a lot of work on those skills!

[anon171999]

No. I've decided to devote my time to healing myself emotionally & learning to cope with my emotions. After I have reached a point in which I am satisfied enough with what I've learned, I will begin working on making lots of money. Then I will use my $$$ and knowledge to help kids and adults.

[lightbulb27]

Setting a solid foundation for yourself is important.

[RolandCuthbert]

I don't understand why you would "volunteer"? Can you please explain that in a little more detail? When I volunteered to help Ukrainian refugees, I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do. My motivation was to help them. . it wasn't political.

[lightbulb27]

I can think of multiple motivations and each person will vary:
a) I like helping others because I feel better seeing another person achieve and do better. I like to see people become their best, relative to where they are.
b) For betterment of the community at large. Makes my environment better, safer, cleaner, more successful... and I'm getting older, so provides security, wealth, etc. This is somewhat self preservation... since allowing humans to fail, training them to fail, denying them resources will result in hazards.
c) one of the aspects of getting older to me is passing on what good I can to help others. I won't be here forever.

It's not political motivation, it may be religious at times as such "giving" "mission" is encouraged in church.

The political aspect is that there is a difference in thinking of how to "create fairness and equality" and distribute the resources of society.

[RolandCuthbert]

@lightbulb27 We have talked for a couple of years. It seems everything you do is motivate by your politics.

And I am just saying, maybe it would better to be upfront about that. Rather than substitute some concern that has a more universal appeal.

[lightbulb27]

That seems an inaccurate interpretation to me. I'm motivated by helping people who are less privileged, to improve their lives and outcomes, outside of government. I don't get how you are interpreting what I said differently.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

I've volunteered a lot of time to help families that were victims of natural calamities and human conflicts.

[Agape93]

Nope. I have no desire helping someone else's kids.

[Bricealan]

I volunteered at Big Brothers, at one point. One day there, I saw a woman, dressed to the hilt, dropping her child off and using Big Brothers, as a babysitter. I never went back

[lightbulb27]

good, I thought about that. that may not be an indicator of abuse though in my mind. depends what you saw.

[lightbulb27]

but that's what I saw at martial arts school as well:) single parents hae to come up wiht something...

[Bricealan]

Going through the qualification process, was rigorous, and after seeing the above happen, I did not want to be a babysitter for some single woman using me for that.

[lightbulb27]

Makes sense. I guess the flip side is we used to live in villages. As long as you have your own woman and kids, maybe it feel better. If single, feels like being used.

[pupluv45]

growing up under poverty has less to do with poor motor skills but rather more to do with lack of a decent education. I have seen plenty of black ghetto kids with superb athletic ability but when it comes to school they are falling behind.

[lightbulb27]

"motor skills" looked like nutrition and maybe practice, emotional support. Yes... all depends.
Yes, I wonder why they fall behind. I see what it takes to get a kid through school at their higher level... a lot of support!

[pupluv45]

trust me, plenty of low income kids are not lacking in nutrients. I grew up in a poor community. We kids had plenty to eat. Black and brown communiities tend to be more overweight because these cultures tend to enjoy eating fried , sugary foods more. Go to any high school, its always black kids making it to basketball teams with their superb athletic abilities.

if they had poor motor skills, they wouldn't be excelling at sports

[lightbulb27]

what kind of food though?
Parents have to be the ones to instill dietary discipline... kids won't' do it. but is that choice or lack of access and knowledge?
possibly true...
I grew up around poor kids as well...

[pupluv45]

Poor people tend to be majorly black and brown communities. These cultures tend to like fried foods and sugsry foods more. Parents dont like vegetables and fruits themselves, why would they teach their kids about eating veggies?

Its a cultural thing.

Whites and Asians tend to like eating healthy. Its not the same foe black and hispanic folks

[lightbulb27]

are you black? are you sure?
my kids like junk food as well, but we don't let them eat it before they eat real food. so it's a parenting issue. heck, me too... I'd eat junk if could getaway with it.
stress creates desire for sugar and fat.
many black people I've met go for healthy food, fruits and sometimes vegetarian. this may be communities/cultures. but my eyes are open to understand.

[pupluv45]

College educated rich blacks tend to eat healthy. But if you're talking about hood ghetto black and hispanics, which make up most of them. Eating healthy is not a part of their culture. Data shows more people within these races suffer from obesity than any other race.

[pupluv45]

I lived in the ghettos for 25 years. Trust me when i say i know blacks

[lightbulb27]

helpful! definitely an area where life can be improved but not easy to change ingrained culture. a "black guy" I went to school with became a chef, he made some amazing burgers. I think it's families... but culture influences.

[InsecureLivesMatter]

No because I don't got the time or the money. Plus all these orgs are big lobbyist usually big pharma scams like St Jude

[TrillXHippy]

I wouldn’t mind helping them out the best way I can

[Anonymous]

No, because I don't understand kids and I don't trust them. I stay away from them and they stay away from me, everyone's happy.

[Echosoul]

As a guy it's safer for me to avoid interacting with kids.