Dare to Dream

J-Mac

By now you may have already heard of Jason McElwain, the 17 year-old student manager of the Greece Athena varsity basketball team outside of Rochester, New York. The story begins in a very familiar way. Jason who is too short at 5' 6", doesn't make the JV roster and becomes the student manager of the varsity boys team. Jason works hard and becomes a valued and respected part of the team. In three years as student manager he only missed one game. So far so good, nothing too unusual yet.

That is until February 15, 2006; Senior Night and the last home game of the year for Greece Athena. Coach Johnson told J-Mac that he would try to get him in the game, but couldn't promise him anything. And then with 4 minutes and 19 seconds left in the game and Greece Athena up by 20, Coach Johnson called J-Mac's number.

259 seconds later Jason had become the game's leading scorer, set a new school record for the most 3 point baskets made in a game and was carried off the floor on the shoulders of his team mates. Oh, and did I mention that Jason is autistic and this was the only varsity game he ever played? Don't believe it? Use this link and push the play button on the video to see for yourself.

This has to be the feel-good story of the year. It reminds us again that everyone, regardless of their disability or talent level, can make a valued contribution. That a community of people working together for a common purpose can transcend individual accomplishment. That great things sometimes happen to those who persevere and attend to the "small things". And that sometimes with some some help from our friends, dreams do come true.

What we all want in life is a shot. But what we do with it, that's a story we all want to tell. Jason took his, and now it's a story we can all tell. So, what's your story? Let's dare to dream!