'Never Cut Corners' Former NBA Player John Amaechi Tells New Canaan Country School Students

During a three-day visit to New Canaan Country School last week, former NBA basketball player John Amaechi shared the story of his unlikely path to the NBA as a “fat kid from England who liked to eat cake and read books” and the lessons he has learned along his journey about character, performance and inclusion.

Growing up in Stockport, England, John Amaechi stood out. He literally stood head and shoulders above his classmates. One day he was walking down the street and a stranger stopped him and said, “You would be great at basketball.”

“That was the first time in my life that someone outside of my home told me I would be great at something,” Amaechi told Country School students. So, he took a chance and learned how to play basketball and finally found a place where he felt he did not stand out. He built confidence through hard work and practice.

Today John Amaechi is a New York Times best-selling author, psychologist, executive coach, social entrepreneur and Officer of the Order of British Empire.

“Your success is in your hands,” he told students, “and it’s not just the big decisions; it’s the everyday decisions. It’s really hard work to do the boring things required every day to be great.”

During a coaching clinic with the basketball teams he reiterated this point saying, “Never cut corners; not in basketball, not in life.”

Amaechi spoke to students, teachers, staff and parents about the importance of inclusion in an increasingly diverse world.

“You’re going to go out into the world and meet a lot of different people,” Amaechi told the students, “and your ability to manage those relationships is going to make the difference between you being successful or not.”

“These are such powerful messages for our students,” said Lynn Sullivan, Director of Community Development, who organized Amaechi’s visit. “When John looked out into the student audience and with great clarity, declared that they were giants saying, ‘I’m an actual giant standing at 6’9, but you are giants, too. What you do matters; you can either crush and damage someone with your words or micro-expressions or you can lift them up and see the person in front of you in a way that allows them to bring their whole selves to the community.’ All students in all schools would benefit from the critical reminder that it’s the daily choices we make that make the difference when we think of inclusion. It’s not always about big policies or programs, but simply about being mindful in our human interactions.”

New Canaan Country School is an independent day school serving children from Fairfield and Westchester counties in Beginners (age 3) through Grade 9. For more information, visit www.countryschool.net.

________________________________

To sign up for the New Canaan Patch newsletter, breaking news alerts and more, click here.