Tony Palmer and Brad Smith Visit Columbia Independent School
10/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 6, 2005
Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri football players and team captains Tony Palmer and Brad Smith visited with the kindergarten through fifth grade students at Columbia Independent School's Lower School Monday morning to discuss how the virtues of self-discipline and responsibility are necessary in their everyday lives. As part of the Lower School's character curriculum, the faculty and students focus on two virtues each month. September's study of self-discipline and responsibility culminated with the visit from Palmer and Smith.
Taking time out of their busy schedules, Palmer and Smith used their day off from football to encourage and motivate others. The two fielded a myriad of questions from the students including what qualities make a good team member, how they react to being tackled, and whom they admire. Smith told the students accountability, responsibility and trust are critical to his relationship with the members of the team, particularly the offensive line. When Palmer was asked how he maintains all of his responsibilities, he replied, "I use a planner. I set my clock for 5:45 a.m. every morning." He continued by advising the students to eat breakfast every day, avoid procrastination, and work hard throughout the day to enjoy free time at the end of the day.
Director of the Lower School Barbara Savage felt Palmer and Smith were excellent choices for the month's virtues because of their status as leaders and role models, not only as MU football players. "I think [their visit] was good in a number of ways," Savage said. "When you grow up and set your mind to do something like football, elementary school or college, you have to have virtues like self-discipline, perseverance, courage, and respect for others."
Over the course of the year the students will have studied 18 different virtues. During the month of October, the school's character education program focuses on respect and curiosity.
