Molding minds of the future

It isn’t everyday that as a student you get to talk to people whose profession deals with professional athletes. When that day comes however, children are on the edge of their seats. 
That was the scene Wednesday at Willow Creek Intermediate School. For the fifth year in a row, the school conducted its Learning Through Leadership Symposium with Dr. Cindra Kamphoff a high performance coach and public speaker talking to the students. 
Principal Jim Kiefer said that every year is something different, but is always directed to help the future for these kids. 
“Everything we do, we do for the kids. If that helps propel them forward to a life of leadership and service what more can we possibly ask for our kids?” he added. 
In the daylong event, there were five separate keynote speakers along  with challenges and seven habits that were shaped to help teach the younger minds of future America. 
After the first three habits that dealt with personal victory were discussed, Dr. Kamphoff took the stage. This was the first time that she was asked to speak at the symposium, but noted that it’s an honor for her. 
“I think it’s an honor to be able to help people just be at their best more often,” she added. 
The first thing she asked the crowd was if they knew who Adam Thielen was. Now, for those who may not know, Thielen is a product of keeping your mind on the course. After a stellar college career at Minnesota State-Mankato, a Division II school, he was able to make the VIkings roster just a year after spending a season on the practice squad. In his third season, he is now one of the starting wide receiver opposite Stefon Diggs. 
That immediately made every kids’ ear perk up. They were locked into the message. Kamphoff, who works as a professor and a sports psychologist with the Mavericks football program, is so well respected in her field that she is often asked to consult for the Vikings as well as Olympic athletes. 
During her 30 minutes of speaking, which was filled with numerous sports references-Michael Phelps and Thielen to name a few-she delivered three strong traits that easily sank into every child’s mind. 
The first was about grit saying that perseverance is a key to success mentally. To break it down for the kids in attendance, she referenced a pearl, noting that they are not made over night and that usually for a good size pearl, it takes up to ten years to fully develop. 
The second was that high performance athletes train to understand that they can only control the controllables. The acronym “APE” (Attitude, preparation, effort) was a way for the kids to get interacted in the discussion, often being asked by Dr. Kamphoff what they believe they stand for.  She often noted that some of the athletes that she worked with would use the acronym as a saying like, “APE up” or “DominAPE.”
Her third trait was the one that she called the most important. She said that high performance athletes master their thinking. It’s a lot like the “If you can believe it, you can do it” line from the movie Dodge ball, but it resonated. 
Kamphoff talked about how she was running the Omaha marathon and with six miles left, she started to wear down. To overcome those “ANTs” in her brain-Automatic, Negative, thoughts- she started to think I am. The eyes of every kid in the room were locked on the photo behind her on the screen that showed her crossing the finish line. Afterward, she asked them to write on the paper in front on them four things they are. 
When she finished she left the stage to a thunderous applause from the students, who then were getting geared up to participate in a team challenges and the remainder of the symposium.