Editor, Gazette-Journal:

In the course of watching a tough Mathews High School football season, I’m writing to offer a few thoughts to these young men in the arena and to any high school or college student competing or performing.

It is inspiring to witness relentless effort despite the score, emotion and attrition. While some debate game plans and all critique performance, these young men compete under the lights and under the scrutiny of their families and peers. Amidst our current fascinations with social media, unreality TV and fantasy sports, these men compete in reality. These student athletes, musicians and thespians who perform under pressure and stumble in front of a large audience only to rise and smile and swing again deserve our respect. They are the future of our society. I can’t improve on the words of a former president who spoke of men in the arena and citizenship in a republic:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the st...