(前情提要:)一場地震改變了一位海地小男孩的人生歸劃
一波三折下，他來到美國尋求他的NBA夢想
經歷的大學籃球洗禮，他參加了2016年NBA選秀
在選秀空等了27個順位之後，他被太陽隊選中
旋即被交易到一隻名為國王的萬年爛隊....
故事還在繼續....
=
Nearly seven years have passed since I last set foot in Haiti.
自從我最後一次踏上海地的土地已經七年了
“You promised me I was going to reach the NBA…”
『爸，你說過你保證我可以打NBA.....』
Those were my first words to my dad after being pulled from the earthquake
rubble in 2010. That day - January 12, 2010 - will forever replay in my head.
That earthquake changed the lives of Haitians forever. For me, much of what I
knew and loved growing up between my home and school had become nothing more
than debris.
這句話是當我從瓦礫中被爸爸救出來時，我說的第一句話
那一天→2010年 一月12日，將永遠被我記得
那場地震徹底改變了海地
比方說，童年時陪我一起長大的美麗事物，多已變成斷瓦殘垣....
But to this day, in what seems like forever away from home, I can still
recall the happiest of memories from my childhood.
但目前為止，在遠離家鄉的時候，我還記得我童年時期那些最好的回憶
I’ll never forget the crooked courtyard basketball hoop I played on, the
good times with family including NBA Live-filled nights with my brother or
NBA games I’d watch with my dad.
我永遠不會忘記我家後面那歪歪斜斜的籃框還有跟爸爸及兄弟們一起在晚上
看直播NBA賽事的時候
God always had a plan for me, and I've always believed in it. I've been
blessed by Him.
It's because of Him that I got to where I am now.
上帝永遠有它的安排，我相信這點。我受 祂的照顧，是 祂讓我成為今日的我。
He got me through where I needed to go and where I needed to be…at the time,
that was away from home.Memphis, Tennessee to be exact. It was there that my
basketball career truly took off, eventually earning me the dream I had since
the day I set foot on the court.
祂指引我人生接下來的方向，在Memphis，我真正的籃球生涯開始了，最終成就我打
開始打籃球的夢想→進入NBA
Back in Port-Au-Prince as a kid, I used to tell my friends that one day I’d
make the NBA. At the time, they’d laugh it off, but I knew I had it in me.
在太子港的童年，我時常跟玩伴提及有一天長大我要進入NBA，當然，他們會取笑
這個夢想，但我知道我一直將它放在我心中。
Although I haven’t seen them since I left home, we’ve communicated online
for years. Whether it’s over one of the viral Facebook videos you’re likely
to have seen or just catching up, since 2010, we’ve been doing this nearly
every day.
雖然我與童年玩伴們不曾見面已多年，但我們利用網路保持連繫。
無論是甚麼有趣的Facebook 影片，雖然可能對方已經看過，我們還是
樂於分享給彼此。
Chasing my NBA dream meant sacrifice. With the help of my faith and my
family, I got through it all. Between staying back from lunch in high school
to watch film with my head coach, coming into the U.S. without knowing
English and much more, it was all worth it. But nothing has been more taxing
than leaving my home and friends behind.
追逐NBA夢想的過程需要犧牲，但在信念及家人的幫助下，我克服了這些障礙
在每日午餐後與我的高中籃球教練研究影片，及不會英文隻身一人來到美國的土地
造成的溝通困難
這些辛苦回頭來看都是值得的～
但最痛苦的就是和家人及朋友們必須分隔兩地
Now, it’s time for me to see them again in person.
現在，我們終於可以團聚再見了～
Five days after my second Summer League – essentially the beginning to my
sophomore season - I’m in Haiti. It’s a sigh of relief and a day I’ve
waited for every day since the summer I left.
夏季聯盟結束後的五天，基本上是我NBA第二年的開始。
從那年夏天離開Haiti以後，我無不期盼早日能回到故土的一刻
現在終於得已實現
Today’s the beginning of what I hope is an annual return home, not only for
my sake, but as a way to make an impact with the youth of Haiti.
今天做為一個常態性的開始，希望我每年都能回到這裡，不單只是為了個人因素
而是為了對海地的年輕人產生正面的影響～
My first-ever Camp S.K.A.L trips lay ahead, with my goal being to provide
lifelong skills and takeaways to each of the camp attendees.
While we’ll be spending some time on the court, what I plan to make a
lasting impact with is off of the hardwood.
我會在這裡舉辦籃球夏令營，希望參予的年輕朋友們能從我這裡學到籃球的技巧
還有場下一些生活的技能
Had it not been for the knowledge of what it took to achieve my dreams, the
perseverance that home instilled in me and the tools I was blessed with in my
younger years, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
如果沒有這些→家庭培養我對目標的堅持，還有早年我學會的一些生活技能
今天就沒有在國王隊打球的蠟筆
I hope today, one day, will be a day I look back on and forever remember.
我希望今天，這小小的一天，是一個刻骨銘心的日子
After all, it wasn’t so long ago that I was in their position - roaming the
streets of Haiti looking to make my dreams come true.
不久之前，我也跟你們一樣，只是一個在海地街頭尋找自己未來出路的孩子～
（＂你們＂是指海地的孩童）
Whether future basketball stars or not, these kids are going to make Haiti
proud. It’s bigger than basketball.
不管你們未來會不會成為籃球明星，我都希望你們成為海地未來的驕傲～
這遠比籃球本身更有意義～
影片
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjotJpb8tnw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpKO4asQuCQ
==
蠟筆的故事讓我想到，有一位球員有類似的經歷
他原本熱愛游泳，不過跟蠟筆的故事一樣
一場無情的天然災難打亂他原先的生涯規劃
那個男人後來成為籃球員，被馬刺選走後的故事
大家都一清二楚了 ~
幼年時奪走他們生命中寶貴成長回憶的天然災難
沒有停止他們追逐夢想的動力
就如蠟筆提到的
『追逐NBA夢想的過程需要犧牲，但在信念及家人的幫助下，我克服了這些障礙』
『如果沒有這些→家庭培養我對目標的堅持，還有早年我學會的一些生活技能
今天就沒有在國王隊打球的蠟筆』
這些都值得我們深思家庭教育及學校教育培養品格及塑造完成人生目標的道路上
理念佔於其中比重的重要性。我們必須深思這些才能藉由他們的例子改善我們
自己的生活，而不只是將成功人物的故事視為理所當然~
(包括表面上讚揚 潛在的心理則認為那是理所當然~)
重點是這樣教育出來的孩子不僅克服過生活的障礙
還表現出回饋與愛的特質，這是做為一個人最珍貴的價值
(無論他信仰的是哪個宗教)
做為國王迷，我們現在看到的是一位充滿前進動力的年輕球員
他打球認真，並且場下樂於奉獻。
衷心希望他能夠追隨那個美屬維京群島小孩的步履
也成為海地人心中永遠的典範~