Sam the Fisherman

Many years ago, I saw a remarkable young man who I’ll call Sam.  Parents and teachers were concerned about Sam’s poor grades.  He worked hard in school but could barely pass.  Sam was well-mannered and well-liked.  He wasn’t depressed nor was he particularly anxious.  Over the course of my assessment, I found that Sam had a below-average IQ and severe learning disabilities.  Sam didn’t have a mental health challenge.  He had a significant educational challenge.  Neither therapy nor medication was going to make school easy for Sam.  In order to get through school, Sam would have to work harder than most.

For many children with learning disabilities it is a challenge to face each school day, keep their heads above water and not drown in frustration.  But despite the challenges he faced, Sam found a unique way to maintain his pride, dignity, and self-esteem.  Sam was determined that someday he would join The Bass Pro Fishing Tour.  Fortunately, Sam was supported by his teachers and parents.  In class, he could read about fishing.  He could write about fishing.  He could do his school projects about fishing.

In the summers, Sam helped at the local bait shop.  When he was sixteen, he got a part time job at a sporting goods store.  If you wanted to know where to fish on the lake, or what lure to use, Sam was the go-to guy.  Sam became a very good fisherman and a valued employee.

I once met a company executive who recruited High School graduates.  He would have liked Sam.  He told me that he didn’t care much about the grades on a resume.  If someone was a quick learner, they could be trained in a couple of months.  If someone was a slow learner, it might take longer.  What he cared most about was what he couldn’t teach.  He couldn’t teach a new hire motivation, responsibility or integrity.  Sam had it all.

I’ve had many occasions to tell Sam’s story to parents of children with academic challenges.  I want them to know that there are pathways to success that are not measured by grades.  Challenges can be overcome if met with courage and perseverance.  It is not always easy, but it is always important, to help these children find their niche by identifying and pursuing talents and interests. Year after year, struggling in school, Sam’s passion for fishing was his life preserver. Sam never got good grades, but he graduated from school with his self-esteem intact.  For Sam, his fishing became not only a hobby and a social outlet, but an employable skill.

After graduating from High School, Sam found a full-time position as a manager in the fishing department of a sporting goods store.  After that, I lost track of Sam.  I know he was doing what he loved and what he did well.  I don’t know if he ever made it to The Bass Pro Tour.  It doesn’t really matter.