The Power of Yet!

You may have realized that I was away from campus for the last three days. Mimi and I flew to North Carolina on Wednesday to celebrate a major accomplishment for one of our kids. Our son, Austin, is a Captain in the United States Army and just graduated from the Special Forces (SF) Q Course and was awarded his Green Beret on Thursday. The ceremony was held at Ft. Bragg and was a special celebration. Austin has been in SF training for two years. It isn’t an easy path, and the fail rate is extremely high.

For all parents wondering if your kiddos are going to make it, know that Mimi and I had the same questions about Austin. He, like so many kids in middle school, had his challenges. He needed a path in which to feel successful, and this is where the trajectory of his life changed. It was in seventh grade that he tried swimming competitively. He didn’t know the strokes, his goggles would fall off when he went from the starting blocks into the water, but he loved the sport. He was lucky to be at an independent school that had a coach who changed his life forever. Coach Ron believed in everyone. He worked with Austin to improve his swim stroke and found him a year-round club program to feed his competitive nature. He coached Austin to success in Hawaii high school swimming, where he won three individual state championships and five conference championships. Coach Ron helped him get to the University of Tennessee where he ended his swimming career with the Vols as an All-American and swam in the 2016 United States Olympic Trials.

Ultimately, Austin wanted to serve our country and went through the toughest training the army had to offer. Becoming a Special Forces officer was a dream after swimming, and coach Ron helped him get there. He never gave up on Austin when others would have. Had Austin been at a larger school, not knowing how to swim, he would have never made the swim team. He would have never had the confidence to accomplish everything he has to date.

This is the power of yet! This is the power of a small independent school. Relationships matter more than you may ever know. There is an adult at Saint Edward’s who is coaching or training one of your children to be their very best. They are instilling confidence and helping your child become the best they can be. 

Coach Ron is still with us. He is in his 80s. He and Austin still talk. In fact, Ron’s daughter was in attendance with us at Austin’s graduation on Thursday. We are blessed by Ron Tsuchiya and can’t imagine where our son would be without him.

Your investment in your children’s education is a worthwhile investment. Mimi and I can’t imagine where our children would be without their relationships with their faculty, coaches and friends. We are truly blessed.

I look forward to seeing you around campus!

Go, Pirates!

Stuart