An Olympia Moment in Time.


According to Philosopher Joseph Campbell, the hero must go through challenges and slay dragons on their journey, but the result is that they become the person they were meant to become. In the journey of writing A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little and Olympia Sports Camp I was lucky to meet some amazing people with amazing stories that the book is full of. The following is an excerpt from the book. It can be found on page 252 and its written by Kris Potter. I'm paraphrasing for length. The content of this passage has echoes in the journey of Olympia coach's kid Kalia Potter.



My Olympia Story began when I was 16 years old and I had been hired to work at the tuck and pro shop. To say that I was a model employee that summer would be a significant stretch, as I was homesick and didn't want to be there. I was insecure, didn't know anyone, and didn't want to look foolish doing things like all those dances! I was being forced to step out of my comfort zone on a daily basis, and it was tough for me. 

It took until week 7 or 8, but something started to feel "right.' I began to feel at home at Olympia. I felt welcome and I loved it. 

Unfortunately 8 weeks of less-than satisfactory work didn't bode well for me getting hired back the following summer. Most of my fellow counsellors were asked back but I wasn't, and to be honest didn't deserve to be. The fact was that I was lazy, immature, cocky, and really didn't bring anything to the camp. I was devastated not to be asked back but knew I was the reason.

Once I knew I was not being hired back I decided to write a letter to Dave Grace telling him how much Olympia had meant to me and what it had done for me in terms of confidence and self-esteem. I was now comfortable outside my comfort zone. I mailed the letter in the hopes of Dave giving me a second chance.

Dave did give me a second chance, and I was hired as a cabin counsellor. I ended up working a total of five summers at Olympia and met some of my best friends in life there, including my wife Leslie. Despite my lacklustre beginnings at camp Dave believed in me and I eventually became a unit leader in my last summer at camp.

Dave Grace's kindness in giving me a second chance has no doubt helped give me the life that I have today. My family and I go to Olympia week 5 every summer and my children consider Olympia one of their truly special places. Dave's lesson also taught me to not give up on someone, especially a young person. Now as a high school guidance counsellor and basketball coach this lesson has served me very well in my career. Thank you Dave. 

Whenever I think about the Caitlin Clarks and Kia Nurses of the WNBA  I find myself thinking about Kalia Potter and the stories that she wrote for my book, including a letter she wrote, when she was 10 years old, to Ellen Degeneres complaining about the lack of equity in sports. Watching Kalia play basketball impresses me, but reading her passion in her writing tells me so much more. Her stories can be found on page 256-258 in Chapter 11- The Reward of the Hero's Journey. 

In understanding the reward of the journey, Kris' struggles and growth as a young person, and meeting the mentors at Olympia, may have planted seeds of confidence, spunk, and respect for the process that are showing up in Kalia, and their son Kye. Kalia is fortunate to have living, breathing role models, and heroes in the WNBA. She is literally witnessing the possibilities. She  may be more fortunate that her dad went through what he went through. Kris and Leslie went through their own journeys, with all the dragons that needed slaying, and that made them great mentors for young people and they  can share of their experiences to help Kalia on her path. Kalia may have goals in basketball and other things in her life but she has proof all around her that she has the tool box needed. 

Another part of this story is that it takes a village of everyday heroes. Kris and Leslie run a basketball program in the London area called Elevate Basketball. Kalia played rep with Kris as coach. The coaching staff included fellow Olympia coach's kid, now coach Jackson Kingshot. 

They say we should surround ourselves with people who inspire. Jackson? He comes from a lineage of success that includes his grandfather Doc Hawkins, a world-class surgeon whose passion and energy was a key reason for Olympia becoming Olympia. Jackson's mother, father, aunts and uncles, and cousins are all Olympia people, people who became heroes and have shared their lives with so many others, including Kalia Potter. 

Thanks Kalia for sharing your passion in my book. I wish you every success. HERE WE GOOOOO!!




Content like this, or stories about Heroes and their journeys, will be available on the Olympia App and the Olympia Alumni Association. We know that the stories captured in The Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp just scratch the surface of the amazing people of Olympia and we envision the OAA as a way to share many more hero's journeys and for all alumni to have a vehicle to stay in touch.

 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

The OAA needs your help. How many Olympia Alumni are in your circle of contacts and friends? Think of the thousands that are out there if we all tell ten friends and each of them tell ten friends and then we can all connect. If you are an Olympia Sports Camp Alumni we need you to register for the OAA and get those in your circle of Olympia contacts to do the same. The link is at:

 https://forms.gle/woWsggqM7zpUyHge9

OLYMPIA HAS AN APP! 


Olympia has created an App that will allow Alumni to connect with the camp events, read content about some amazing Olympia people, and maybe sign your child or grandchild up for the week of their lives. Simply use this QR code to get to the App and all it offers. It will take you to the Olympia website and so much more!





 If you have someone who you feel is a hero of their journey and who the Olympia community would like to hear about connect with me at coachdools71@gmail.com.  Within a community of everyday heroes there are many stories that people would love to read about, stories I would love to write about. 

Why should I buy a book?

- See the 12 steps of the hero's journey come alive

- Learn a lot about yourself by reading about the journey of others.

- Learn about the Community of Olympia that spans over 50 years.

- Learn that Olympia is a Community of Everyday Heroes

- Learn that you, too, are a hero of your own journey

How can I buy a book

-available for order through Amazon and Indigo.ca

- available at The Different Drummer Book Store on Locust Street in Burlington

- available at the Olympia Tuck and Pro Shop

- Etransfer me $30 and I'll drive it to your house ! 

- available online at aherosjourney.ca

- audiobook version is available at Audible, Amazon, to iTunes 

If you would like us to come to your town for a book event or get copies into your favourite bookstore , email me at coachdools71@gmail.com

 If you have someone who you feel is a hero of their journey and who the Olympia community would like to hear about connect with me at coachdools71@gmail.com.  Within a community of everyday heroes there are many stories that people would love to read about, stories I would love to write about. 



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