[chapman1]

My Dad was the person who taught me Gracious Professionalism. He wasn't, however, a professional. He was just a person who helped those who could use a hand. If he saw somebody stuck in a ditch, or someone scratching their head next to a car with the hood up, he'd stop to see if he could help.

Occasionally, people would offer to pay him for the help he rendered. He'd simply say, "You help the next guy." I learned from that.

Our team won a Gracious Professionalism award at a Michigan District Competition this year, and it wasn't because anyone on our team was trying to win it. It was because almost everyone on our team has had someone who modeled that behavior for them while expecting nothing in return.

The best we can all do for our kids as parents, mentors and world citizens, is to model that behavior always: not to win an award, but because it is the right thing to do.