Inside April 20, 2004's Issue

College, Bird and the meaning of life

Touching All Basses
By Bobby Moore
[email protected]
Staff writer

I really hate to try comparing myself to one of my all time favorite athletes, but I see some similarities in the experiences of a legend and a personal journey that is coming to an end.

Three years ago, I graduated from high school. I went to a very small private school, and I would not trade in the great experience I had at Rome Christian Academy for an Ivy League education. Mrs. Susan Tilley is a great Christian woman and I was lucky to learn under her for four years.

However, there was a slight drawback to my school. It caused me to dread the idea of going from a school of 20 to a large university.

With that in mind, I decided to try Georgia Highlands College for one semester. To make a long story short, that first semester was way back in 2002.

Before I had time to consider my other options, it had become clear that FC was indeed the perfect fit. Once again, I can look back and say I have no regrets after another step towards my goals.

You are probably wondering how this ties in with sports. As a basketball fan, I have a great appreciation for Larry Bird, the definitive blue collar man and the leader of the Boston Celtics during their third championship dynasty.

Bird, a native of Baden, Indiana, also went to a small high school. At Spring Valley High, Bird excelled and became a hometown legend.

Unlike me, Bird dove headfirst into a large university and faced some major culture shock.

He did not select just any college, he signed with the University of Indiana and coach Bob Knight. Not only did he have to deal with a drastically larger student body, he also had the weight of the entire basketball loving state on his shoulders.

Unable to cope with the adjustment, Bird transferred to Indiana State.

With the Sycamores, Bird averaged 30.3 points per game, became a unanimous player of the year as a senior and led his team to an unlikely NCAA tournament run in 1979 that was ended by Michigan State and Magic Johnson in arguably the most influential televised championship game of all time.

My athletic prowess and the lack thereof has not brought me any awards, but I have managed to become FC Bytes co-editor, Phi Theta Kappa president and a columnist during my FC career.

Larry Bird excelled in the proper environment. Away from large crowds and the pressures of being a Hoosier, he lived up to his full potential. I have also been successful in the right environment. Thanks to the professors and my peers at Georgia Highlands College, I now feel prepared for the educational and social challenges of a four year university.

Junior college has definitely helped me grow towards my full potential. Being in the right place at the right time is what life is all about, and I hope I am in the right place once again next fall.

I also hope that other young people will discover Georgia Highlands College and benefit from it as much as I have. All journeys begin with one step, whether it is as a Sycamore or as a Charger.

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