Saggau shares stories of inspiration to motivate students

Bernie Saggau, past executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, spoke to Le Mars students Thursday about freedom of choice and achieving their goals. Here Saggau mimics his daughter's violin playing. She didn't have natural talent, he said, but through practice was able to make the instrument "talk." [Click to enlarge]

"Make good choices" was the message Bernie Saggau shared with Le Mars students in grades four through 12 Thursday.

"The freedom of choice is to be what you want to be," Saggau said. "The more education you have, the more choices you have."

Saggau, past executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSSA), was invited by Le Mars Community Schools (LCS) to talk about his life experiences to inspire LCS and Gehlen Catholic School students.

"The only reason I'm here is because I love kids," Saggau told LCHS students Thursday morning. "I've talked to more kids in Iowa than any living person."

Saggau encouraged students to never let anything stand in the way of achieving their goals, and to utilize the freedom of choice in America.

"Sixty-five percent of the adults in America go to a job they do not like, and it was their choice," Saggau said. "There's only about 5 percent of things you can't be."

For example, he could never be a star basketball player because of his small stature nor could a tall, lanky basketball starter be a jockey because of his size, Saggau said.

But they could do something else associated with the sport.

"They can own the horse. They can be the veterinarian. They can build that track," he said. "Be whatever you want, kids."

Saggau told the students to not use excuses like the color of their skin, how rich their parents are or whether they are men or women for not achieving their goals.

To emphasize his point Saggau shared the story of actress Donna Reed, who grew up in Denison and attended country school as a child. When her teacher asked her what she wanted to be, she said "a movie star." That dream was unheard of at that time because of her background living in a small, country town.

Reed was best known for her role in "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Donna Reed Show."

Saggau urged LCHS students to follow in Reed's footsteps, and suggested five concepts to help them do it.

"Write down what you want, gain all the skill and knowledge about that goal, and you're going to plan and never give up and it's yours," Saggau said. "Your future's a matter of choice. You don't wait for it. You go out and you make it happen."

He also told students it's important to respect one another and roll with life's punches.

"You can't take a nosedive," Saggau said. "If you do, you'll do stupid things that you'll regret the rest of your life."

Saggau, who was IHSSA executive director 38 years until retiring in 2005, also told high school students about the successes he had achieved in his own life.

"Since I was a little squirt, one of my goals was always to be a referee," Saggau said. "I worked 30 years in college basketball."

He obtained that goal by sticking with the four Fs: family, friends, faculty and faith, he said.

"Those four things are going to take you through life," Saggau said. "That's just the way it has to be."

Along with encouraging high school students, Saggau, a former middle school principal, also reminded seventh and eighth graders they are responsible for their decisions.

"I've always believed in my heart, middle school may be the most important level," Saggau said after the session with LCMS students. "That's when a lot of habits and decisions are made."

The middle school years are often the time when kids make choices about drug and alcohol use and sometimes run into "pitfalls," and need guidance, Saggau said.

"Putting your head in the sand is not the answer," he said.

Wrapping up his day Saggau, spoke to fourth, fifth and sixth graders from LCS and Gehlen Catholic School about substance abuse, mentioning the Optimist Club of Le Mars' "Say No to Drugs and Alcohol" program as a positive for young people.

Saggau's visit coincided with the Optimist Club's unveiling of its 2008-09 T-shirts designed by fifth-grader Crystal Eppling.

From fourth grade to 12th grade, Saggau's message was the same.

"You have to believe."