East Midvale had a special guest speaker today! Lance Allred shared the many lessons he has learned as he pursued his passion for basketball and desire to play at a high level despite almost total hearing loss. He talked to our 4th and 5th graders about perseverance and accountability and about how to use failures and disappointments as opportunities to learn and grow. He shared how he learned to communicate on and off the basketball court using body language most importantly, being fully aware of his environment, using hearing aides and learning to read lips.
As a kid, his commitment to basketball inspired him to wake up each morning at 5 am using one of those old fashioned alarm clocks on his chest to practice. He shared that the majority of NBA players begin in the league at age 19 or 20. He made the NBA team at 27 – through determination and perseverance.
Mr. Allred played for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers as well as professionally all around the world.
After he spoke to the group, he answered questions from the students, gave out signed basketballs, brought his jersey for the students to see and touch and even showed some skill on our basketball nets in the gym. Our community says thank you to Mr. Allred.
