Northern Hills Elementary School fourth grader Kayden has three favorite football players.
Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes.
Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson.
And Churchill High School’s Harold Releford.
Harold made the list following Churchill’s first game of the year. They met on the sidelines, and it’s a meeting neither of them will ever forget.
“We got to the game, and I saw Kayden smiling on the sidelines,” said Releford. “He was bringing the energy. I was loving it, so I had to show some love back.”
He immediately gave Kayden a high-five, and they became instantly connected.
Kayden used to be Churchill Principal Todd Bloomer’s neighbor. So, Kayden likes to tag along when Bloomer heads to the football games. Now, every game, Harold makes sure to check up on his “little hype man.”
“Harold has shown this young man in one interaction that there are great people out there,” said Bloomer. “He’s a great example of a Churchill Charger who exemplifies our core value of ‘We Care.’”
While Bloomer is impressed with Harold’s attitude, Harold can’t get enough of Kayden and the inspiration he is offering him during every game.
“It’s an honor to have somebody look up to you. He’s comparing me to NFL players. I feel like I owe it to him. I gotta go hard for him. He inspires me to be a better player on the field. He inspires me to do the right thing even when people aren’t looking, like picking up trash on the floor. I have to set an example for the little ones. I love that man; I love all my brothers on this team. He’s definitely part of the team. He makes me a better person.”
NEISD high school students jump at opportunities to help motivate our younger students. But the younger students should know they motivate the “big kids” too.
#Discoveryourpath #theNEISDway
