The Little One Who Follows Me

If you have been with us at Lawrence Intermediate for a while, you probably know how much of an influence John Wooden has had on me as an educator. His teachings are at the core of what we do in terms of character development with our students. Today would have been John's 100th birthday had he not passed away last June at the age of 99. I found the poem below in one of his books a while back. I believe it was written by someone else, yet it speaks well to anyone who works with children-teachers, coaches, parents, reminding all of us of how much influence we really have on young people.

A careful man I ought to be, a little fellow follows me.
I dare not go astray, for fear he'll go the self-same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes, whatever he sees me do, he tries
Like me, he says, he's going to be, the little one who follows me.

He thinks that I am good and fine, believes in every word of mine.
The base in me he must not see, the little one who follows me.

I must remember as I go, through summers' sun and winters' snow.
I 'm building for the years to be, this little one who follows me.

Thanks Coach. Happy Birthday.