It is common knowledge that positive programs have positive outcomes in the lives of individuals and more specifically youth, as they are invariably impressionable. For that reason, in most places, there is a multitude of options for youth to become involved with clubs, organizations or programs so that they too can benefit from new knowledge, experiences, triumphs, failures and camaraderie with their peers.

Vallan Hodge

It is said often in Anguilla that there are not enough options for the youth and therefore they turn to less desirable activities according to social discourse. Again, as stated in my previous article, I refuse to dwell on or highlight negative aspects of youth in Anguilla. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, I must say that there are many options for youth in Anguilla and in this column, I will highlight those groups, clubs, organizations or individuals that achieve.

In the past year, I have become acquainted with many individuals in our society that are doing great things. It is my hope that I will be able to speak positively about all of them. As I am in the beginning stages of this new “Celebration of Youth” column, it is only fitting that I laud certain noteworthy individuals with whom I have worked closely. My staff of three tennis pros are devoted to teaching the children currently enrolled in the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s programs and, although they are all worthy of recognition, I would like to utilize this forum to praise the efforts of Vallan Hodge. Vallan is a native of Anguilla and is the son of Reynold and Ana Hodge of Rey Hill. Just recently he was hired full time by the ATA because of his dedication to youth and to himself as a young man. Many times, young people lack self confidence and therefore fear setting goals because of their lack of experience.

When Vallan graduated from the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School in 2005 he had one goal in mind to continue playing tennis. He was not sure where playing a sport would take him but he quickly found that he had a solid role as a coach for the new up and coming tennis stars of Anguilla. I first met Vallan in 1999 when I was a visiting coach for the ATA’s annual summer camp. I honestly was not very impressed with Vallan’s work ethic, attitude or level of motivation. Many parents, teachers and others involved with Vallan’s life have wholeheartedly shared my sentiments. In school, Vallan was never one to excel or go the extra mile and he most certainly had issues with authority. I hired Vallan to start coaching 70 children in the park in September 2005 although I received much scepticism. To date, Vallan has come leaps and bounds farther than any would have ever expected.

There are many facets in which Vallan has improved. First and foremost, since the idea of receiving a college scholarship to the United States was implanted within his mind, he has done nothing but train tirelessly to improve his level of play. His commitment to developing his ability in tennis propelled him to become the Anguillian National Junior Champion which consequently made him the recipient of Anguilla’s Tennis Player of the Year during the sports awards banquet in which he was adorned with a rather massive trophy. Vallan has also been able to make a rather difficult transition in the arena of coaching as well. It is always difficult to leave a program, return, and become a coach in the same program from which one participates. He went from participating in the summer tennis camp of 2005 as a player to becoming a coach the following September. He has most certainly, since then, gained the respect of the children not only because of his level of coaching and playing, but because of the commitment he has made to youth development. Vallan has been able to recognize that the ATA’s programs have given him so much, he now has an obligation to give back.

As I saw how Vallan was progressing, I immediately asked him to join my staff at Cuisinart Resort and Spa as an assistant tennis coach. I hope that my readers will be able to appreciate the different level work involved here. There is a rather large gap between coaching the children of Anguilla and giving private tennis lessons to hotel guests at Cuisinart. There is a high level of expectation that many guests at Cuisinart have and therefore it requires a great deal of experience and level of maturity to work with the guests as closely as a tennis pro does in the tourism industry. When giving a private tennis lesson for one hour, a tennis pro works with a guest on a personal level that most other employees at a hotel would never experience. In the beginning of his tenure at Cuisinart, I must admit it was difficult to train Vallan in even the most fundamental aspects of this new venture. Yet, he quickly improved and on many occasions I have left him in charge of the entire tennis area. As the season is coming to a close, to date, Vallan Hodge has never received one complaint from a guest. Moreover, his dedication to the sport and children prompted a guest to make a US $5,000 contribution to the Anguilla Tennis Academy. On the cheque, the donor wrote, “this donation is in honour of Vallan Hodge.”

Needless to say, I am extremely proud of this noteworthy young man. He has made a commitment to improving himself and at the same time has remained loyally devoted to giving back and teaching the children. There is no doubt in my mind that he will soon be off to college on a tennis scholarship and will shortly return to Anguilla ready and willing to continue to give back to a society and community that did not let him slip through the cracks, but nurtured him and is now proud to call him one of their own.
If you are aware of any youth doing extraordinary things in our community, please write me at jallen@caribcable.comor send letters to PO Box 548.

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