Soccer player has new goal; Helping kids from 'all over'

According to Andrew Vaughn, 17, the formula for successful human relationships begins with respect.

"Basically, that's it," said Andrew, a senior at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady. "No matter what [their] reputation may be, it all comes down to treating others the way you want to be treated. The respect leads to understanding."

He lives that credo through his involvement in programs at the Schenectady YMCA, where works in the childcare programs, helps out with sports and social projects, and even sits in on the Black and Latino Achievers program.

On the go

It's difficult for Andrew to gauge the amount of time he spends each week at the Y. Between running the Monday youth soccer program, helping with Saturday's basketball program and teen social night, working in after-school enrichment and childcare programs, and going to Thursday Achievers meetings, he can log up to 30 hours.

"It's something I don't get tired of," he said. "I don't get bored with it."

As an aide, he works with children, helping them with homework, and presiding over arts and crafts.

"We get kids from all over -- all different shapes and sizes, and abilities and disabilities," said Matt Panicca, Andrew's supervisor and assistant childcare director at the Y. "I've seen Andy work hard with kids who are troubled, pull them from a potential crisis situation and bring them back into the routine without an incident, calmly."

Out of shell

Andrew used to be shy, but he changed when he started selling fundraiser candy at the concession stand at the Y's basketball games. He also gained on-the-job leadership lessons by being involved with the youth soccer program.

It's hard to be bashful, he said, when you're looked up to and watching out for the welfare of children.

"I used to be shy," he said, "but there are times you need to speak up, to be up-front. There are times when, in order to get things done, you have to ask questions. I've discovered there's really no reason to be shy about anything. Everyone's just the same as I am."

Field lessons

As a soccer coach, Andrew starts by teaching the fundamentals of the game -- punting, heading, passing and trapping. "As they get better, we move on at their own pace," he said.

However, he hopes the children get more out of the program than the ability to play the game; he wants them to be imbued with such values as caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

"He definitely is every one of those," said Mr. Panicca. "It gets passed on through the kids, too."

Rashad Collins, director of the Y's Achievement program, described Andrew as a role model to many of his fellow students.

"He's one of the guys that the kids really look up to, in that he's going to college and taking that next step," he said. "They look at him in a positive way because he's doing what he needs to do academically and personally to get himself there."

Goal!

As a child, Andrew Vaughn said, he "tried everything -- especially if it was a sport," and found a "natural fit" in soccer.

Casual play led to leagues and his school's program, where he helped ND-BG's soccer team win honors and earned a Goalie of the Year award for himself. He hopes that prize will land him a spot on a collegiate soccer team next fall.

He does not yet know where he will play. "I'm still talking with coaches," he said.

Andrew is considering a career involving children. Kids are "fun," he noted. "I get a kick out of kids. They're very interesting, and they make you wonder, 'What was I like at that age?'"

(2/17/05)