By Nate Fisher

Shavar Tompkins, 8th Grade, has made a habit of showing up and taking care of business. When asked if he had any advice to share, he said, “Don’t be mean, and make good choices.” Not only would this look great printed on t-shirts, hats, and other merch, it’s also the unwritten law of sportsmanship. Despite his carefree and humble responses, Shavar demonstrates all the early signs of someone on his way to becoming an effective leader.

For now, Shavar is building those skills as manager of the basketball team. Here he practices the art of showing up and getting it done: offering refreshment to players coming off the court, double-checking scoring, and keeping records. Despite his small size, he houses a huge heart with the human drive to compete; he does whatever is necessary to help the team do its best.

It’s not that Shavar wants to be the frontman; he just wants to play in the band. That’s where he thrives, helping out from inside. 

Not all leaders crave the spotlight. Shavar is an inside shooter and loves to weave through the defense. You can hear this in the reason he says he’d like to sell real estate when he finishes high school: “I want to help people pick out houses.” As a manager moving forward, he will no doubt continue to lead others to their goals, wherever they may be, and teach them, through his example, that it’s all about showing up.

But even managers must manage themselves, and Shavar doesn’t mind taking some downtime to play baseball or practice on his saxophone. He often chooses to watch television and listen to music to relax when he’s at home. But he’s no stranger to responsibility, and applies the same outlook to cleaning his room and keeping up with other chores around the house as he does to supporting his team. Some mornings, you may catch him in the kitchen preparing his favorite delicacy, pancakes. And he always cleans up.

The dreams he imagines during these periods are both noble and big picture-oriented: “[If I could do anything,] I’d want to keep trash from coming into the ocean.” Shavar explained that he prizes turtles and other sea creatures, and his wish is to prevent them from suffering and dying due to pollution. His love for conservation is determined, and the empathetic way he approaches situations and problems with a budding leader’s touch will serve him well in his future successes.

We asked Shavar why his grades were so good, and he simply said, “I turn my homework in on time.” Sometimes our truths are that simple. When the shot clock’s running down, the only good outcome may be making the shot — any shot — on time, but it all starts with a choice to show up. We know Shavar will continue to do just that.