For One Heritage Academy Hero, It’s All About Family
By John Hill
May 19, 2022
“Family on three. One, two, three FAMILY!!” If you heard these words echoing through our gym at Heritage Academy this basketball season you were likely hearing the voice of team leader Seth Skousen. Players earn the designation of choosing huddle breakouts based on effort and attitude. I often hear “fight” or “Heroes” as typical shoutouts, but as our JH boys basketball season progressed, I noticed that Seth more often than not chose “family.” Whether it was a practice send off, pre-game buildup, or simply a timeout during the game, it was always “family.”
Family being of core importance is not surprising for a young man that defines a big part of his identity through his family name and their achievements. His dad is a prominent local farmer. His mom is a substitute teacher at HAM. His sister Hannah earned special recognition as a senior last year in winning our school’s prestigious George Washington award.
“My family defines who I am,” Seth says proudly. “But I have lots of families. We are born into our biological family, but we choose our extended families based on who and what we want to be a part of, like our basketball team - they’re also my family.”
Seth brought the same work ethic and principles that make his family successful to our basketball family: hard work, discipline, and punctuality among many other traits. He also brought along core pillars of our Heritage Academy school mission regarding knowledge, patience, being humble, and always maintaining a positive, hopeful outlook.
Those core traits have been on display from day one of my time with Seth. Last year, as a 7th grade captain, Seth did not play as much as he would have liked. However, he always looked to build his knowledge as he patiently waited for his opportunity. Seth also remained humble. He takes his success in stride and sees all success as a normal extension of hard work, which anyone can achieve.
This ties into his positive, hopeful outlook. Seth knows from his life experience and from his family that success will eventually come your way, as it will to anyone that works hard, builds knowledge, and has patience. Looking back on his 7th grade season, Seth reflected: “Your time will come, just be patient and enjoy the ride.”
This year Seth’s time arrived. As an every game starter he became the team leader in rebounds, blocked shots, and minutes played for our JH basketball Heritage Heroes. As I tell all my players (and my students): work hard, build your knowledge, and be patient - opportunity will find you. Seth did all those things and opportunity found him.
“Family on three” might be a cliched breakout for some players, but for others it represents the core values of who they are and what makes them successful. For Seth it really is all about family. And as his basketball coach for two seasons, I am honored and fortunate to have been a part of one of his families, one that was made stronger by his presence.
Seth Skousen is an 8th grade scholar at Heritage Academy Maricopa. Other “families” Seth is a part of include being a standout on the JH tackle football team and a lead actor in JH drama. Seth is an honor roll student. He believes in trying as many things as he can, finding what he enjoys, and then giving it his all.
John Hill is an English teacher and basketball coach at Heritage Academy Maricopa. He proudly includes Heritage Academy Maricopa as one of his families.
