You know how they say we humans are the product of our growing up and our environmental conditions? I can surely attest to that: I attended two different high schools back in the mid 90's, Eisenhower for two years and Wesfield for two.

So my freshman and sophomore years I was at Eisenhower, a school primarily composed of minorities; Blacks and Hispanics being the majority followed by whites and Asians. The school was super competitive with sports, The Big Ike football team underachieved the two years..

I was there as it was loaded with great athletes. Basketball was good and so was track and field. I tried out for baseball and surprisingly I made the JV team because of my speed. My defense needed plenty of work, primarily playing center field and second base. In baseball we...

had a kid who ended up going to Michigan on a full ride, yes he was there at the end of the famous Fab Five short but exciting two runs at the championship.
But what defined those two years at that high school was the tragic and despicable murders of Jennifer Ertman and

Elizabeth Peña. They were murdered and gang raped by five evil people. One of them was a classmate mine, Jose Medellin, a not a trouble maker by any standard but still a killer at the end. The story below https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/amp/Medellin-executed-for-rape-murder-of-Houston-1770696.php

It was heartbreaking finding out of the killings and knowing one of your classmates had been involved in such horrific crime. I always thought he was trying to prove himself to the other gang members in order to fit in. As it is typical with gangs.

That fall I moved and went to a scho ol where whites were the majority. Another school with so much talent sports wise. Played soccer and ran cross country. Just like with Jordan, my dream of playing baseball had ended.
The difference in schools was huge - kids here for the

Most part were middle class with dreams beyond just playing sports. I learned a lot about being competitive in the books department while at the other school was more about being street smart. Both needed in life, one more than the other.
I had the pleasure of sharing a science c

Class with one of the most talented female gymnasts ever, Kim Zmeskal! She won everything available to win in the field and was the favorite to win gold in the Barcelona Olympics but sadly she fell to win any medals. She came to class here and there as she was on the road most

Of the time. She graded some of my work few times and I kept her signature as a way of an autograph. Watching her work hard inspired me athletically and with the books. Always wonder how she was able to hold it down with the pressure of performing at the highest level.