| It is important to build your child's self-confidence, | | | | he has to change schools it will delay his graduation. |
| and this applies to all children. One of the easiest | | | | Brian had experience with other university students |
| ways to build your child's self-confidence is to support | | | | and even his own experience coming from abroad. |
| his or her passion. For example if your child loves | | | | He told Larry that he shared the same passion for |
| soccer, music, swimming, gymnastics or another | | | | soccer, but your education is important and nobody |
| activity, use this activity to build their confidence. | | | | can take that away from you. For example, if you |
| We will like to share our experience with our Deaf | | | | have an injury in sports it can affect you playing |
| son Larry. Larry loved sports from a toddler; he | | | | professionally. Brian said he wished he had paid more |
| would sit or lie down in front of the TV and just | | | | attention to his education. |
| watch sports, all sports. Larry was a very active | | | | He came to school in the states from Ireland and his |
| toddler, so we noticed what kept him interested for | | | | first priority was playing division I soccer and |
| an extended period. While Larry attended Kendall | | | | eventually pro. He told Larry that he had no one to |
| Demonstration Elementary School on Gallaudet | | | | advise him because his parents were in Ireland. He |
| University campus he played basketball and some | | | | came to the USA on his own. As parents we want |
| soccer. But Larry always had surplus energy. | | | | to be there for our kids as much as possible. The |
| When we moved to Massachusetts, Larry was 10 | | | | amazing thing is whatever your child's passion, in |
| years old. Larry started playing soccer; formally I | | | | addition to listening to you, they would listen to the |
| should say, in the town league. Just about that time | | | | coach or that leader. And sometimes they even listen |
| Larry started reading soccer magazines for children | | | | to them more or are more receptive to what they |
| around his age. Which also helped in improving his | | | | are saying. Because they think you as a parent is |
| reading skills. So one day Larry put Raz and I to sit | | | | preaching to them. The coach is like another ally, so |
| down and he outlined his plan for his future with | | | | that is a good thing. |
| soccer. He wanted to play soccer for the Marlboro | | | | As parents we all want confident children! When you |
| town league, the Massachusetts club level, the | | | | build your son or daughter's self-confidence as a child, |
| Olympics and World Cup Soccer internationally. | | | | it pays off when they become a teenager. It will help |
| Raz and I said, yes we will support him, even though | | | | them with peer pressure, with school and with their |
| we did not know how he was going to do all this. So | | | | goals. When you build your son and daughter's |
| Larry led and we supported. Larry achieved all his | | | | self-confidence as a teenager, it pays off when they |
| soccer goals except playing at the World Cup Soccer | | | | become adults. When they are in university by |
| level. Larry played at the highest club level in | | | | themselves or when they have moved out. This will |
| Massachusetts for one of the most elite clubs, at | | | | carry through with them the rest of their lives. So |
| California State University in Northridge and the USA's | | | | we invite you today to focus on building your child's |
| Men's Deaf Soccer Olympic Team. You can read our | | | | self-confidence by supporting their passion! Usually |
| story for complete details on how Larry accomplished | | | | children have more than one passion. Larry's second |
| his goals. | | | | passion was social studies and geography, which was |
| Larry's experience with soccer built his | | | | completely different from soccer. That was his |
| self-confidence tremendously. It was something we | | | | undergrad major. That helped him with his reading |
| never dreamed about. We just saw his confidence | | | | and communication skills. This is a gift you can give |
| grow and explode. Which made him a really strong | | | | your child that will be with them forever. Nobody can |
| person. This really helped with peer pressure. Larry | | | | take their self confidence away from them. It is |
| saved his allowance to purchase his favorite | | | | never too late to start! |
| professional soccer teams jerseys and he wore them | | | | We talk about Larry's self confidence and his passion |
| frequently to school. He was serious about soccer, | | | | in sports and soccer. But I want parents and people |
| his health, and eating right, that is, salads, fruits and | | | | to know that it did not only come out on the soccer |
| drinking water. So he did not get involved in such | | | | field, with this coach and the players. It came out in |
| activities as smoking cigarettes in High School, which I | | | | all areas of his life. When he was choosing a school |
| think was such a big plus for us. It really was a | | | | he was confident enough to say I want to go to this |
| blessing in disguise. | | | | school all the way on the west coast in California. He |
| While playing soccer at the club level, Larry was | | | | did his masters, he traveled, he played soccer |
| fortunate to have a coach that valued Larry's | | | | abroad, he founded I think 3-4 groups and he is on |
| passion, skills, enthusiasm, and dedication to the game | | | | the Board of Directors at Deaf Inc. He is involved in |
| and deafness was not an issue. Larry was playing | | | | International Committees for the Deaf. So you know |
| soccer at the highest club level for the elite Boston | | | | he is a leader in the Deaf community. We saw the |
| Eagles Club. Larry loved and respected this coach. He | | | | confidence on the soccer field and his love for |
| valued the coach's advice on non-sports topics such | | | | soccer, but now it just blossomed in all different |
| as education. The coach advised him that education | | | | areas of his life. And that is what you have to look |
| came first and soccer second. | | | | at, the benefits to your children. All this advice is for |
| I remember Brian said to us to allow him to go | | | | children in general. The only additional thing you need |
| wherever he wanted to go to school. The reason | | | | to do if you have a Deaf child is to be able to |
| being if he changed his major and he loved the | | | | communicate with them. And that is by learning ASL, |
| school he will stay there and continue his education. If | | | | American Sign Language. |