There are those typical days at school that include lots of classes, lots of studying, lots of teachers, lots of books, lots of writing, and lots of gossip about who is hooking up and who is breaking up.
Then there are those when your day at school is made a bit more notable when a WNBA legend makes an appearance to speak to your school’s student body.
Tamika Catchings made a couple of appearances on Thursday at Fort Wayne Community Schools. She was the guest speaker at the breakfast for Fort Wayne Community Schools’ Study Connection volunteer program.
At the event, Catch hoped that those volunteer tutors to understand that it is important to know that certain people paved the way for the current generation and that this current one must do the same for the next.
People paid it forward for us, as we get older it’s our chance, our opportunity to turn it back around and pay it forward for the next generation.
–Tamika Catchings (per WANE)
Later on, she went to Kekionga Middle School where she spoke to over 200 girls. Catchings wanted those girls to have “B.I.G.” dreams. Believe, inspire and be great.
One of the many gems of knowledge Catchings dropped was to ensure that they have stable support systems that will be with them through thick and thin – and that they know who their friends are.
I think this is the age that you really start shaping yourself into what you are, who you are like what you want to become. And it’s important to have the right group around you early. Because as you get older people come in and out, but I think this is the most impressionable age as far as being able to develop yourself into the person you want to be.
–Tamika Catchings (per WANE)
In addition to her storied playing career in the W with the Fever, Catchings made a major career move before the start of the season when she was named its Vice President of Basketball Operations. She assumed the role after serving as Director of Player Programs and Franchise Development with Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
