Grant Latty

I have always loved sports. Everything about sports interests me, playing them, watching them, the statistics involved, the rules, the geography even. I could go on and on. However, I was never the fastest athlete, nor the biggest, strongest, or tallest. What I lacked in stature, speed and strength, I made up for with my work ethic and intellect. I loved school and did well because I wanted to be a student athlete. The kid to aspire to. The one with brains, leadership skills, and athleticism but sports was always a force that drove me to work smarter and push harder. My parents always expected my best efforts in all things and I knew if I didn't perform well academically, I would not be allowed to participate. There expectations were way superior to the current no pass no play. Grades below my level of ability were simply not accepted. So, I graduated from Jackson County high school with honors in 2016. I accomplished this as a three sport athlete, attaining a Varsity letter in two of the three sports all four years and lettering in basketball three of the four years. Eleven letters, seven state patches, and a Scholar Athlete Letter all belong to me.
Also, somewhere along the way I found a niche for teaching others the ends and outs of the game. I became known for my encouragement and knowledge as well as my tenacious and tough play. I was the little guy who should not be starting the game or performing so well based on stature, etc., yet my commitment and determination always found me excelling. When I didn't start a game, my teammates relied on my guidance and encouragement to help them achieve. I became a leader in every sense of the word.
Because of sports, and my personal experiences as an athlete, I worked harder in the classroom. I did not want to let my parents, teachers, or coaches down. I was an underdog in every sense of the word and most of the teams I played on in high school at Jackson County were underdogs. One example is our basketball team my senior year. Our junior year we went 4-22 on the season. My senior year we went 19-11, and we made it to the state playoffs for the first time in seventeen years. We won our first playoff game and advanced to the sweet sixteen for the first time since 1965.

It has been my coaches both on the field and in the classroom who have inspired me. They have shown me both what makes a good teacher and a few have demonstrated what not to do. From my experience, teachers have the ability to positively impact the future. They touch countless lives over the course of their career and coaches spend even more time with students than the average teacher. It is my hope that I can positively impact the lives of kids in the same way I was impacted and that my experiences once shared will help to inspire others not to place limits on themselves. I am passionate about people, sports, leadership, character, and hard work all of which I believe will aid me in my endeavors as an educator and mentor for today's youth.