M U LT N O M A H A T H L E T I C F O U N D A T I O N
Mentors and Coaches Support StudentAthletes Building Brighter Futures By Jennifer Holzapfel-Hanson
T
he world of sports offers a comprehensive blend of reallife experiences: wins, losses, injuries, and more. This microcosm of life itself provides valuable lessons and opportunities for personal growth — especially for student-athletes. Traci Rossi, Executive Director of Friends of the Children (FOTC) in Portland, and a board member with the Multnomah Athletic Foundation, aptly describes sports as “the best playground” where athletes learn not only about physical activity but also about themselves and life’s trials and tribulations.
32 | The Wınged M | DECEMBER 2023
Whether a student-athlete excels on the field, slopes, court or track, a special connection — reflecting more than athletic achievement — develops between a young person and the adults who encourage and guide them. Whether a student-athlete works with a coach, who may offer structured guidance and clear plans to improve performance and develop skills; a mentor, who offers friendly guidance based on their own experience; or both (and sometimes one person has both roles), coaches and mentors play a pivotal role in the lives of these athletes.
