Hamilton Tiger-Cat Kojo Aidoo
signs an autograph for a young fan. He teamed up with Argo Randy Srochenski during a Toronto
conference to talk with youths
about literacy.
Y-Files
June 20, 2007 10:56 AM
By: By Larissa Marks, Youth Writer
“This might be the only time you see a member of the Toronto Argonauts and a Hamilton Ti-cat enjoying each other’s company,” joked Argo Randy Srochenski as he shared the stage with Hamilton Tiger Cat Kojo Aidoo.
The men will do battle on the field this season, but were light-hearted as they united at MissionFest Toronto, where they educated teenagers about the importance of literacy.
The youth were excited to see the players and were treated to an insider’s look at how reading is important to the CFL.
As part of the recruiting process, Mr. Srochenski explained, players are given a playbook an inch thick.
They are expected to read it and understand their own plays, their teammates’ movements and how the team will perform as a unit.
To do this, they must have experience envisioning what they read.
“As players take that playbook, we begin to see ourselves and say ‘Oh, I can do that’,” said the six-foot, three-inch linebacker.
But this is true for more than just sports stars.
“What you see is what you are going to go after in life,” he said, sharing his belief about the importance of visualizing your dreams and goals.
Mr. Aidoo echoed this idea saying, “Whatever your dream is, you say your prayers, you work hard at it and those dreams will definitely materialize.”
Mr. Aidoo is a successful CFL player with his own personal training company.
Reading was crucial to his success, but a constant struggle for him, he admitted.
He challenged himself by reading the business section of the newspaper.
“It’s the hardest section,” he quipped.
But he encouraged the young audience to seek out ways to make reading more fun, like joining a book club.
Markham Public Libraries knows the importance of book discussion groups and one Monday each month offers teenagers the opportunity to gather and talk about a different book on a wide variety of topics.
Larissa Marks is a member of the York Region Media Group’s y-team. You can contact her c/o dteetzel@yrmg.com