PERSPECTIVES

The 2009 Pine Car Derby

Each participating vehicle was carefully crafted to meet qualifying specifications, such as weight, width, construction materials and clearance underneath to allow for the guides on the track; all this while also attempting to achieve an aerodynamic quality and a unique presentation in order to get votes from the viewing audience for the best design.

I saw the excitement in his face as his car was placed on the track in the very first round. He glanced my way to make sure I saw it too, and then leaned in to find his best focal point to watch the run, and especially to be able to get a good view of the finish line. The race administrator pulled the handle and ..zoom, the cars were flying down the track. Sadly, his car finished last.

He leaned back, took a deep breath and shrugged it off because he knew he had a second chance. But we didn't know that the second chance would arrive in the next couple of rounds. It did. And again, his car finished last. So soon in this evening's event he had to face the harsh reality of elimination from the competition.

But let me tell you something about this young ten-year old man.

I watched him at that moment, when at the second effort, his car glided across the finish line after its competitors. Initially, he dropped from a kneeling-cheering position to a deflated sitting back collapse. His countenance fell also. But I saw him shake his head, and get back up right away, and watch the next round, and the next. It was apparent that he had made a conscious decision to refrain from pouting, whining and such. His mom leaned over to encourage him, and he said, "It's okay Mom, I know it's not me that lost, it must have been something about the car". Soon, he was cheering for his buddies' cars.

When the race was completed, awards were given. His eyes lit up and he smiled with delight, as his name was the first one called. Yes, his very own Car 47 had won the design competition.

After the heat, the kids were permitted to use the track to race against each other - just for fun. He won several of those runs, and smiles prevailed.

In the game of maturity, he's truly displaying a winning attitude.