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Dwight Howard Jr., who is 6-foot-10, hangs out with OCHS students before the start of the Patriot Promise, a new mentoring program started by Superintendent Beverley Levine. Howard played for the L.A. Lakers and Orlando Magic, among other teams. (Jim Bass/Oglethorpe Echo)
Dwight Howard Jr. walked through the halls of Oglethorpe County High School, towering over students and ducking under doors as students followed him, waiting patiently to ask for a photo or autograph.
The former NBA star, who is 6-foot-10, was there to kick off the Patriot Promise program on March 21. He shared lessons learned from his time with teams like the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks, among others.
“Failure is a part of your experience,” Howard Jr. said. “Experience is the best teacher, and all of us have had so much experience.”
Patriot Promise is a new program that pairs students with a life coach to help guide them through high school and prepare them for success. Howard Jr. emphasized the importance of this type of help.
“One of the reasons why I was successful early in my career is because of the mentorship and guidance that I had from the older players on my team, and even before that my father and my mother were my mentors,” he said.
Dwight Howard Sr. is one of the life coaches, and he asked his son to support the event.
“My family and I have adopted Oglethorpe County,” said Howard Sr. “And I know God has called my family and I to be life coaches, encouragers, mentors here.”
The 12 volunteer life coaches, made up of clergy, small business owners, former teachers and other community members, introduced themselves, and Howard Jr. spoke about his life and career and took questions from students.
“Wanting to be the greatest, that kept me motivated,” said Howard Jr., when asked by a student what kept him motivated. “Then as I got older, I started to have kids of my own, that was what kept me motivated.”
The program was created by Superintendent Beverley Levine, who saw a similar program at another school. The students were considered for the REACH program, but didn’t end up being final candidates.
Rosanna Ames, communications consultant for the school system, said Levine thought the students who weren’t selected still needed life coaches and mentors, so she started Patriot Promise.
Students will have the opportunity to meet with life coaches on Thursdays during a time set aside for extra tutoring or club meetings.
Ames said no student will be turned away from having a mentor, even if they weren’t selected for the kickoff event.
Howard Sr. encouraged the students to take advantage of this opportunity.
“This is a real blessing, to have men and women, young and older, share and pour out to you,” he said.