"I Act With Respect"

Eve Crossett

"Daily, I try to make a difference in someone’s life..."

My name is Eve Crossett and I am a senior at Saratoga Springs High School. I have been a member of the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team for the past 3 years and a member of the Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team for the past 2 years. I am also an AIDS Orphan Education Trust (AOET) Team Member, President of Spanish National Honors Society, and a volunteer at St. Clements Catholic Church’s SNACpack program.

How did you meet Coach Rich Johns?
I first met Coach Johns when he came to talk to the tennis team last year. I got to know him much better this year during the tennis season. His guidance helped me tremendously improve my tennis skills and confidence in my play. Coach Johns is someone that I can always count on and is a big inspiration to everyone around him.

How did you hear about Act With Respect Always?
I had seen AWRA signs all over Saratoga and in my school, but I first learned about Act With Respect Always during a tennis practice two years ago and its message has stuck with me ever since. After attending an AWRA presentation, I was able to fully learn about the program.

How has the Act With Respect Alway mission affected you personally?
In October 2019, I accompanied Coach Johns on a trip to South Glens Falls High School for one of his presentations and it truly changed me. He taught me how to be more empathetic and that it is okay to lean on others during tough times. The AWRA mission has also taught me how I can make a positive impact on other people.

The Act With Respect Always program inspires me to be a better daughter, sister, friend, and person. I often wear my AWRA wristband as a reminder to always be kind and respectful to others.

Please share with us how you have, or will in the future “Pay it Forward”
Coach Johns and the Act With Respect program has inspired me to “Pay it Forward” in the local and global community. Daily, I try to make a difference in someone’s life, even if it is something as small as complimenting someone or helping them solve a problem. Everyone has their own private struggles and something as small as a hello in the hallway can make someone’s day.

In addition, I had the privilege of traveling to Uganda in April 2019 on a medical and humanitarian mission with AIDS Orphan Education Trust (AOET), an incredible program that aids impoverished societies in third-world countries. During my time in Uganda, I met an incredibly intelligent 14-year old boy who couldn’t afford to stay in school. When I told him that my family would be paying for his schooling, medical bills, and meals, his entire face lit up and a huge weight was lifted from his uncle’s shoulders. It is heartwarming to know that I am making such a big difference in someone’s life.

How would you describe the Act With Respect Always mission to others?
The Act With Respect Always program does a terrific job of showing others how to be respectful. Even though it seems like common sense to “act with respect always”, we often need reminders of what that really means and looks like. By following the AWRA mission, you better yourself and others around you. Coach Johns has changed so many lives and truly makes a difference with his program.

Would you recommend Rich to speak about Respect to others?
I would undoubtedly recommend for Coach Johns to speak about Respect to others. He has already touched so many lives and will continue to do so wherever he goes. Everyone should get the opportunity to listen to Coach Johns speak because he is an amazing role model and his passion for making the world a better place is truly inspiring.