What Are The Real Handicaps?

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For years, Professor [W. Page] Pitt headed the Department of Journalism at Marshall University.

Although he was offered salaries of two to three times what he made as a college professor,

Pitt’s first love was teaching journalism.

Pitt’s success is enviable because of the record he has made, but what is most remarkable about

Professor Pitt is that he accomplished all of this practically blind. When he was only five years

old, he lost 97 percent of his eyesight. Though almost blind... he played baseball, first base, catching

a low ball by the sound of it whistling through the grass. He played football as a second-string tackle.

He worked his way through college and graduate school....

When he became a professor, Page Pitt earned the reputation of being a “slave driver.”

But he also earned the reputation of being a top-notch professor. They did not come any better than Pitt.

One day, a somewhat thoughtless student asked the professor which he would consider

the worst handicap: blindness or deafness, or no arms and legs, or what?

There was a smoldering, ominous quiet... then Page exploded. “None of those things!

Lethargy, irresponsibility, lack of ambition, or desire: They are the real handicaps.

If I do not teach you anything but to want to do something with your lives,

this course will be a magnificent success!”

No one could challenge Pitt. Constantly he would growl at his students,

“You’re not here to learn mediocrities, you’re here to learn to excel.”

SOURCE:

Heroes

Harold J. Sala

Promise Press