TINA MILLER: True hero Ali Sharrief reaches out to help fourth-grade boys | TuscaloosaNews.com
College athletes dream of making a difference, whether it be catching that touchdown pass to win the game, hitting the walk-off home run that brings the team victory, or even sticking the landing to end an almost perfect routine.
Yes, these events are exciting, and these difference makers are often hailed as heroes, but I would like to tell you about an athlete that has made a difference off the field, and oh what a difference he's made in the lives of several young fourth graders at Woodland Forrest School.
This hero's name is Ali Sharrief, No. 26, a defensive back on the University of Alabama football team. I am the lucky fourth-grade teacher who has had the joy to watch Ali work with my boys during the spring semester of this school year.
It all started back in January when our class won a party because we were one of the top classes in the phone book recycling contest held by our school. As part of our reward, several UA football players came to our class so the students could "meet and greet" them.
Ali took me aside and asked me if there were any boys that might respond to him coming and spending some quality time, just talking about problems, temptations and issues that they are facing growing up. After talking with Ali, I knew that this was indeed a mission for him, and I gladly arranged for a time convenient for everyone.
So every Wednesday afternoon, Ali and Stephanie Godfrey, athletic intern for life skills and community outreach, and I spend about an hour with several boys just talking, laughing, answering questions or sharing helpful advice.
The boys know that they have to earn the right to visit with Ali, so I have seen a great improvement in positive behavior.
It turns out that Ali has faced some of the same problems that our boys are dealing with now: authority issues, anger management, balancing school and extra curricular activities. It has been so rewarding to see the fourth graders open up to him, sharing with us their fears as well as their dreams.
Ali has definitely brought out the best in these boys. He's been to lunch with us (of course his table was the most popular), he's played two-hand touch football with the boys, but the best thing that he has done has been just listening and giving sound advice to some of these young boys' concerns.
During spring practice, Ali even accommodated his schedule to have his weekly visit. The crowning moment came when around 10 boys, their parents, Stephanie and I attended the A-Day football game. We were all cheering on Ali as he had nine tackles and one assist - the highest on the Crimson team - and helped secure the Crimson victory.
You see, you can be a hero on and off the field, but I want everyone to know that in the eyes of several fourth-grade boys and one very thankful teacher, Ali Sharrief is a hero in the best sense!
True hero Ali Sharrief reaches out to help fourth-grade boys
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