By Lance Patterson
Kids First
I recently had one of those parenting moments that was equal parts frustrating and proud. I guess that describes most parenting moments … but this one stuck with me.
Before parent‑teacher conferences, my son received a form asking him to list his positive traits. Being a kid who thinks he’s funny, he wrote: “I don’t know.” He knew we’d see the form and got a kick out of our reaction.
When we pressed him, he gave us a real answer: “I try to be generous, respectful, encouraging, accountable, and trustworthy.” My wife and I had to agree—he truly does strive for those things. Then came the proud moment for me. He told us he learned about those values while growing up at the Boys & Girls Club.
At the Club, we ask our members to BE GREAT. It’s simple, but it covers everything that helps young people grow into strong adults. When you’re generous, respectful, encouraging, accountable, and trustworthy, you get along with others, learn new things, and gain new experiences. You begin to acknowledge other people’s beliefs and perspectives, even when they differ from your own. You learn to understand yourself and others. You break down barriers and realize that everyone has a place where they belong.
That sense of belonging is one of the greatest strengths of the Boys & Girls Club. At the Club, kids from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, and beliefs come together in the same space, not because they’re alike, but because they’re welcome. I’ve watched young people who seemed worlds apart become lifelong friends. I’ve seen shy kids become leaders. I’ve seen teens discover passions, develop skills, and find mentors who guide them through some of the toughest moments of growing up.
The Club does more than keep kids safe after school. It teaches them how to navigate the world with empathy and confidence. It gives them opportunities to lead, to collaborate, to build resilience. It shows them that kindness, responsibility, and respect are not just expectations. They’re tools that help you build a better life and a better community.
Which is why it’s always surprising to me when those values seem lost in the world around us. Whether it’s comments about City or School issues, a debate about national events, or a conversation turning unexpectedly negative, it seems like we’ve forgotten how to coexist with people who see things differently. We seem so quick to divide everything into “us” and “them.”
So as we navigate today’s cultural climate, maybe we could all strive to BE GREAT a little more often.
- Be Generous with our interpretations. Offer others the benefit of the doubt.
- Be Respectful in our words. What we say and how we say it matter.
- Be Encouraging in our interactions. Everyone has a voice and the right to use it.
- Be Accountable. Hold yourself to the same high standards you expect from others and from our leaders.
- Be Trustworthy. Pause before sharing information. Make sure it’s true.
Our kids learn not only from what we say, but from how we treat each other. The Boys & Girls Club teaches young people to BE GREAT. Let’s show them that adults can do the same.
Lance Patterson is the chief executive officer at Boys and Girls Clubs of Hutchinson. He can be reached at lpatterson@bgchutch.com.