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Highlands Today

Teaching Kids Life Lessons

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

"I stress to my coaches and I stress to my kids good sportsmanship, because that sets the pattern of good sportsmanship in life," said Parks and Recreations Coordinator Michelle Cuencas.

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: December 15, 2008

AVON PARK - Michelle Cuencas takes a vested interest in what her kids do, all 125 of them.

No, they're not technically her children, but are local youth who spend their afternoons at the Avon Park Parks and Recreation Department, where she is the coordinator.

Cuencas said she does feel a bond with the 125 kids she refers to as her own.

"I do feel for them," she said. "When they do good, I feel good. When they do bad, I pull them in here and I look them in their eyes and I put my hand around their shoulders and tell them, 'There's more to life that what you're going through right now.'"

Cuencas has worked for the recreation department since 2001, following four years at the administration office at Avon Park City Hall.

Since becoming interim coordinator in July 2007, Cuencas has overseen the formation of, among other things, a youth volleyball league in a city known more for football, basketball and baseball.

"Kids that I would have never thought would stay to play volleyball did," she said.

Lately, the economic climate has been taking its toll and the number of kids who sign up for the various leagues offered by the department has dropped. Dues are $25, which is still high for some financially-strapped families.

To make sure all Avon Park youth have the opportunity to come to the recreation center, Cuencas is having them take home a form to fill out, and then pay whatever amount they can afford.

She is also planning an upcoming movie and dance event to use as a fundraiser.

One of Cuencas' goals when working with the children - aside from giving them the opportunity to play sports and have fun - is to instill in them "basic values and ethics" that will help them later in life.

"I stress to my coaches and I stress to my kids good sportsmanship, because that sets the pattern of good sportsmanship in life," she said. "A lot of these kids that come here, they're going to have a very hard life, so they need to learn early in life how to deal with certain things."

A lot of the children, Cuencas added, come from homes where the little attention they do receive is often negative or violent. She wants to make sure that is not the case when they are under her figurative roof.

"I enjoy seeing that little light bulb light up when you give them that one-on-one attention and respect that they might not get somewhere else," Cuencas said.

Cuencas is herself the mother of three children, a 21-year-old University of Florida student, a 15-year-old Avon Park High schooler and a 13-year-old who attends Avon Park Middle School.

Her family continues the sporting tradition at home, as all are big football fans. Supporting the same team, however, is not the case.

"My daughter's a Gator, my son's a 'Nole, my other one's a Bull and I like Miami," Cuencas said.

Her own children are maybe not quite as impressed by the reactions she receives when she encounters her other "kids" out in the community.

"Everywhere I go, 'Hey, Ms. Michelle! Hey, Ms. Michelle!" Cuencas said. "My kids tell me all the time, 'Mom, everybody loves you. Why?"

Her relationship with the kids continues even after they've graduated from high school and moved on to college; they may be off spreading their wings, but they still make a point to return to the nest from time to time.

"When they come to visit relatives, they make sure they stop by and they say, 'Hi,'" Cuencas said.

Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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