Be a star in your role
Tristan Thompson is a member of the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers. His stats in Game 7 read:
- 31 minutes played
- 3 shot attempts
- 2 blocked shots
- 3 rebounds
They’re not MVP numbers.
But the Cavs didn’t need MVP numbers from Tristan. They needed him to be a star in his role. One of his roles was defending the Golden State Warriors’ great shooter, Steph Curry. Steph was limited to one shot in the last five minutes of the game, thanks in part to Tristan’s defence.
“My role on the team is not to be a star, but to do the dirty work,” Tristan said. “I just want to be a star in that role.”
That’s an awesome attitude to have about anything. I can’t wait to share this message with my students at school.
In a Drama sense, sometimes students might not get the role they wanted to play. The role they have might be one that’s quiet, or less in major than other roles. Roles I play in various parts of my life might seem “small” too.
I remember reading a saying from the Russian actor and director, Konstantin Stanislavski , “There no small parts, only small actors.” I think that thought encourages us to do the best we can, with whatever part we have. If we all do that, the group will be successful in what it’s trying to achieve.
Cavs captain, LeBron James, invited his teammates to dinner before the playoffs. At one point during the evening LeBron stood and addressed each member of the team. He explained what that player’s strengths were and what he would need to contribute to help the team win. Then he gave each one a small memento.
I wonder if what LeBron said to Tristan was, “Be a star in your role.”
