to realize that his high school library had limited resources.
He remembered that Drew University was about four miles from his school. It was a beautiful, small Ivy League-like school that appeared to be a small version of Harvard. It had a fairyland quality about it and gas lamps lit the walkways on the campus. A plan began to form and Bruce thought, “I’m big and I can pass for a college junior. I bet I can get into Drew’s library. I know it’s bigger and has more information.”
He decided after school to try and get into Drew University’s library. It was cold this time of year and drifting snow was covering the streets and sidewalks as he headed there. He thought about his plan all of the way: “I’m not afraid to talk to people. I know the safest way to blend in is to be friendly. Girls seem to be easier to make friends with than guys.”
He walked across the small campus and found the library. He saw an attractive young woman in front of the library. She looked as if she worked there. Bruce thought, “I’ll talk to her. I need to make her my friend. She can help me get into the library with no problem.”
He walked up to her and started to talk to her. He asked lots of questions. He improvised, adapted and stayed focused during his conversation. He overcame all of her objections as they talked. Finally, he convinced her that he needed a study carrel. She was reluctant at first because these were reserved for upper classmen. Bruce persisted and they became friends. She assigned him a study carrel too. “Now I can use the library whenever I want and do more extensive research. I also have the privacy here so no one questions why I’m here.”
Bruce became so busy with his new interest and project that many of his old friends from the football team felt as though he had abandoned them. He wasn’t considered by some to be one of the “cool jocks” anymore. This was uncharted territory as far as he was concerned. He didn’t know where he fit in either. His teammates thought he acted weird. “Why aren’t you at practice anymore? Do you think you’re better than us?” he overheard them ask as they walked down the high school corridors.
“I don’t fit in and I feel like a fish out of water. I’m not on the team anymore. Where do I fit?” Bruce wondered.
He had some choices to make. He felt shunned by his friends and thought, “If I’ve lost some of my teammates’ respect, how do I get it back? Do I want it back?”
He didn’t have the answers. He was cast adrift and felt alone in a sea of hundreds of kids. Half of the team didn’t feel he belonged and he felt as though the nerds and intellects were afraid of him. Bruce was a smart guy but up until this point he never really applied himself. He did what was needed to get by. “Now what?” he asked himself.
After giving it some thought he decided to show up at a science club meeting. The “nerds” thought he was there to spy on them or play tricks on them. This was the history they had had with “jocks” in their school. Bruce wasn’t a nerd and didn’t fit in anywhere; no one trusted him. He realized he was no longer part of a group and his friends and classmates were confused. So was he.
Bruce persevered and decided he had to prove he was smart too. He studied hard and found that chemistry was easy. As he brought his chemistry grades up to straight A’s he entered a national chemistry competition and won!
He realized that he could do anything he set his mind to do. He began taking some of the “nerds” under his wing and offered them his protection. He became a champion of the underdogs at school. In Bruce’s experience jocks didn’t have any use for brainy kids; they thought they were weak.
Even though he no longer totally fit in with any group he still tried to find his place. Since the accident his life had changed. No one felt comfortable around this new Bruce. He didn’t always feel comfortable with himself either.
In spite of the resistance and obstacles that he encountered his faith in himself and his mission remained strong. He still didn’t know what the outcome would look like exactly, but he believed he could make things happen! He was ready to take a big leap of faith against all odds!
AGAINST ALL ODDS
“Man, I can’t win. Everything’s so hard and I have to fight for every inch of progress. My whole life’s changed and nothing’s the same. I feel like a fish out of water and on top of everything else I don’t fit in anywhere,” thought Bruce. “I’m not ready to give up!”
Bruce had a vision of what he wanted to do but he didn’t know how to do it! Even his parents didn’t support him. His friends thought he was weird and had totally lost it. He was definitely a different person since he broke his leg and couldn’t play football. Sometimes they looked at him as if he came from another planet!
Bruce’s injuries were healing and he was off of his crutches and in a walking cast. He was sitting in homeroom class when his teacher came over and said, “Bruce, your Coach wants to see you in his office after school.”
“Thanks,” Bruce responded.
After school Bruce headed over to the Coach’s office walking through the team locker room to get there. All of the players were suiting up for practice. Bruce felt a lot of mixed emotions coming from his friends and teammates. Some were really glad to see him but others made cutting comments: “Hey, man, look who’s here! Yeah, it’s the biggest, no, the largest nerd in school. Sure nice to see you, Einstein.”
Bruce continued walking to the Coach’s office and tried to ignore the comments. He didn’t want to get into any hassles.
When he reached the office and walked in the Coach got right to the point and said, “Where have you been? Why aren’t you out on the practice field anymore? You know you are letting your teammates down! You know that, don’t you?”
“No, I’m not, Coach,” responded a surprised Bruce.
“Yes, you are, and I’m the one saying you are, Tully!” yelled a heated Coach.
“No, I’m not,” replied Bruce emphatically. “What I’m trying to do for my team is a lot more important than standing around on the sidelines every day, Coach!”
Coach didn’t want to hear what he considered were excuses so he said, “That’s it! You’re done! Get out of here. You can kiss your letter for this year ‘good-bye.’”
Bruce stopped and turned around. He looked his Coach squarely in the eyes and said, “Do what you have to do, Coach. I know I will.”
He left his Coach standing there and made his way back through the locker room. He wasn’t in any mood to talk to anyone. He was upset and angry and thought to himself, “Who is that guy? I’ve been loyal and I have given this team everything I’ve got. Doesn’t he understand I have something better to do than stand out there on the sidelines? How can he take away a letter that I have more than earned? I don’t get it!”
Before he could get out of the locker room he was stopped by DeAngelo, the running back. “Hey, what did Coach say?” DeAngelo asked.
“He said I’m out, done, and I won’t get any varsity letter this year,” replied Bruce feeling angry and disillusioned.
“Wow! Really?” asked DeAngelo.
“Yeah, really,” growled Bruce.
DeAngelo decided to justify the Coach’s position and asked, “Well, where have you been anyway? Everyone on the team says you’ve lost it since you broke your leg.”
Bruce ignored his question and said, “Tommy, do you like milk?”
“What? What kind of answer is that?” asked DeAngelo.
“Just answer my question,” responded Bruce.
“No, I don’t like milk,” DeAngelo answered.
“Have you ever tasted it?” asked Bruce.
“No,