How One Woman Was Taught How to #StandTall

Patch and When the Game Stands Tall are asking about the coaches, teachers or mentors who inspired you.

Anna Powers’ mentor is from Stoney Creek High School and taught her to never give up.

Mentor Name: Andrew Powers

Known Mentor for: 18 years months

School: Stoney Creek HS

Town: Rochester

State: Michigan

What mentor taught about success:

My mentor showed me how to endure! He showed me that life at times is not what we envisioned it to be, but we can still endure and overcome. One never gives up, even if it takes longer. God made all of us different, each with his/her own talents and gifts and apply them, even in difficult situations, we can succeed!

What mentor taught about dealing with failure: There is NO failure! Failure only exists if we do nothing. Though life seems to put us in different circumstances, often not what we had envisioned or hoped for, we cannot give up! I have learned from Andy that there are many paths to success! Initially we only see one way to succeed and when that doesn’t happen we feel we have failed. Yet this is only a learning opportunity that teaches us and makes us stronger for the new success yet to come. Never ever give up! We have been put here with a purpose. Most of us don’t even know what it is, but when a piece of life’s puzzle is moved we all feel it. We each have an influence on others, we touch others, we are important to LIFE! Unfortunately, we sometimes don’t realize this till someone is not there anymore, then we remember how this person made us smile, laugh; made a difference to LIFE. Never give up! We all will get to the finish line as long as we stay in the race, even if we follow different paths.

Best advice from mentor: The best advice I’ve received from Andy is to never give up or give in. We all play an important role in life and to kee p trying. Perseverance will be our tool. The turtle won th! e race, even though he wasn’t the fastest.