Becoming a coach was one of the best choices I have ever made. Although I'm still in my first year, I have learned so many things from my mentors and colleagues. Coaching alongside my old coaches are memories I will hold onto forever. But coaching wasn't always the pathway I wanted to take or even thought I could take.
Every kid is asked what their dream is when they are younger. Most will say a doctor, an astronaut, a scientist and even a professional sports player - and if you could guess, I was one of those kids. In first grade, I saw my older brother famously known as “JP” playing tackle football. I wanted to be like him so much that I decided to join a week late into the season. My age group was still in flag football but that's not what JP was doing so I chose to go up in age groups and play tackle football just like he was. As the years went by, I got better and better and started to find myself among some of the top players in my grade. This is where I decided to chase my dreams and try my best to become a D1 athlete and play in the NFL. I was thinking about winning the National Championship with the University of Texas and some Super Bowls with the Texans. I worked very hard and by my sophomore year of high school, I was on the varsity team.
All throughout my time in FISD, I could feel love from teachers and administrators. Although we never say it, as kids in FISD, we are very appreciative of the things our teachers and administrators do for us. From creative learning to small talk in the hallway to even advice on life, we are truly appreciative of everything they do. After many long talks with some of my coaches and teachers my junior year, I realized my dream was no longer to make the NFL but it was to help others achieve their own dreams. Every single one of the coaches has impacted me so much that I made a decision to spend the rest of my life impacting kids just like they had impacted me.
After trying to get a job at the junior high all summer, it seemed like my coaching dreams would have to wait at least four more years. About three days before school started, I got a call from Coach Garcia asking me if I wanted to coach football at FJH. I thanked God and said yes. The moment I said yes I knew this is what I was meant to do. Being able to take all the knowledge of the game I've loved for over a decade and give it to my kids is one of the most rewarding things in the world. They always seem to put a smile on my face and brighten up my day. Even when I have rough days of classes in college, I remember that I get to go see my kids and my day is instantly turned around.
I wake up every morning and I think of all the people who have come before me and all the people who will come after me. I think about the long blue line and what it means to be a Mustang. As football players in Friendswood, we learn very quickly that we are relentless. We play until the last whistle and never back down from any challenge. My hope is that one day I will be like those who have created the tradition of what it is to be a Mustang. I hope that I will inspire kids every day to be the best version of themselves and that they learn the same life principles I did. Friendswood is a special place. A place with pride, a place with love and a place with a heartbeat like no other.
-Jared Yawn, FJH Football Coach
