Senior Katie Coon Nominating Jordan Boots
The person who inspires me the most would be my softball coach, Jordan Boots. He started coaching JV softball my sophomore year, and has been a big part of my life over the past 3 years. Boots is an amazing coach. He'll do just about anything to help the players. If we want to get extra practice in areas where we are struggling, like fielding or hitting, he'll stay after practice to help us with it. He loves helping us and doesn't mind doing it. He's dedicated to this team and to the players. Boots has helped me in softball in many different ways. He inspires me to do my best and tells me to always have confidence in myself. I didn't quit because of him. He believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. Boots knew I could do it and he showed me how. He always makes time to help me. Boots is the best coach anyone could ask for and I'm glad I get to learn from him. I just want to say thank you. Thank you Boots for believing in me, pushing me and knowing that I could do it. He didn't give up on me, even though I almost gave up on him by not playing this year but I remembered the promise I made to him my sophomore year. I promised him that I wouldn't quit or ever give up on him as long as he didn't give up on me. In the 3 years I have known him, he's always stuck by me and had confidence in me.
I didn't want to play this year because of personal reasons but Boots talked to me and made me realize that I couldn't quit my senior year. He reminded me of how much I love playing and of all the memories I had made over the last few years. He told me that even though there might have been problems in the past, we would make my last year a great one. I'm glad I got to spend these years with him. Learning from him. Having fun and making so many great memories with him that I'll never forget. One of the things I won't forget about him are his pep talks for softball. He knows just what to say to keep us motivated and to pick us up when we are down.
He's helped me in softball but he's also helped me to grow as a person: to be independent, to be a leader, and to help others when they are struggling. He teaches 2"0 grade at McKinley, and for the last 8 months I've tutored kids in his class and helped him grade papers. I was able to see what an amazing teacher he is. Just like he helps me in softball, he does everything he can to help his students. He tries different approaches if they don't understand the material and helps them practice in areas where they are struggling. The kids in his class really look up to him and so do I. He means the world to those little kids. To them Boots is their role model. He makes them want to learn and really gets them involved in class activities. He recently hatched 16 chicks in his class. Throughout the 21 days of the eggs being in the incubator, the kids learned so much about chickens and did a couple of projects on them. When the chicks finally hatched the kids were so excited and so was Boots. He kept the chicks in his class for a week after they were born so the kids could see them. Not only did his class get to see and hold them, but the rest of the school did too. He made it a learning experience not only for his class but also for everyone. I loved watching the kids learn and I made a lot of memories in his class. I'm grateful I got to help him this year. Boots is very patient, caring, understanding and funny. That's what makes him a great teacher. I'm proud of him.
Like I said before, Boots is a big part of my life. He's more than a coach and mentor to me. He's like a big brother. Someone I can talk to and that I can trust. Someone I can have fun with and who can make me laugh all the time, even when I'm in a bad mood. Boots is my role model. He's the person I look up to. I'm grateful that he's always been there for me. He has inspired me to be the person I am today.
