Inspiration

Thomas Alva Edison said that "success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration." Clearly, that was a shorthand quip and the 10% shouldn't be given such short shrift.

This past weekend, my daughter, Laura, and I went to a showcase for ice hockey players. At this event, the players had the opportunity to be seen by prep school coaches and to speak with the coaches about their schools. My daughter shyly approached a coach whose school had denied Laura admission last year. They exchanged greetings, briefly mentioned the rejection, and proceeded to discuss the other events of Laura's year. Laura was not this man's student, nor was she one of his players. Nevertheless, this consummate educator kindly and gently offered suggestions about interview skills and also advised her on puck handling.

I must point out my admiration, as well, for my daughter. The students were encouraged to ask the coaches for feedback about the student's potential. Laura asked the coaches from three highly competitive schools to offer their opinion about her ability to play at the varsity level. That took guts. We drove like bats out of hell from Maine to New York yesterday and pulled into the ice rink with 20 minutes to spare before practice. She certainly perspired, but she came of the ice talking about how she was inspired by the level of play up at the showcase.