West Milford school community is “All In”

BY PATRICIA KELLER
WEST MILFORD — West Milford High School’s fourth annual Community Kickoff Day was one to remember. Held on Sept. 7, the event featured a program for incoming freshmen parents; a “meet and greet” with representatives for the many extracurricular activities that West Milford High School (WMHS) offers for students including athletics, clubs and academic organizations; and concluded with a powerful presentation by motivational speaker Gian Paul Gonzalez. Parents and students of both the high school and Macopin Middle School were invited to attend.

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The evening began with a special informational session with the staff team that supports incoming freshmen. Parents and students in grades 7 through 12 were encouraged to visit the school’s caféteria, where athletic team coaches, club advisors and student members representing the many extracurricular activities available to students at the high school were on hand to meet and greet prospective members and answer questions about their organizations.

'All In'

This was followed by a keynote presentation by motivational speaker Gian Paul Gonzalez, the mastermind behind the concept of being "all in" for success - the motto that the district has embraced this past year.
Members of the district’s administration and school board members previously attended an event featuring Gonzalez, and incorporated the “All In” concept as the district’s motto. The positive feedback they received from those who attended that first event prompted the district to arrange for the motivational program to be presented to students at the high school during a daytime assembly, as well as in an evening presentation at the Community Kickoff Event for parents and families.
Gonzalez is a teacher and holds a master's degree in educational leadership. He was a former NCAA first team all-American basketball player from Montclair State University, scoring nearly 1,400 points in his three-year career. He played in the NBA Summer League in 2007 and is the founder of ‘Hope and Future,’ a foundation that provides opportunities for youth to proactively become empowered members of their community through extracurricular activities, events and programming.

Being committed

During his presentation, Gonzalez shared personal stories to exemplify the concept of commitment. He explained the meaning of the poker phrase “All In”-putting all your chips on the table. He discussed how each day we are faced with decisions, and it is at that time that we can decide to be fully committed to something- to be “All-In.” He talked about the importance of being true to oneself, be like a “shark” and always give full commitment to things that are most important to you, whether it is family life, career, or other things that a person decides to take on. Only then can a person truly be able to reach their full potential, be the best they can be, and possibly even achieve more than they could have ever imagined possible, according to Gonzalez.
At the end of the program, Gonzalez invited the audience to come up to the stage after the presentation and take a poker chip which was embossed with “WMTPS” on one side and “All In” on the other. He challenged the audience to be committed and be “All In” in their own lives, and especially to be involved and supportive as parents - “All in” for all aspects of their children’s lives. He instructed the crowd to place their “All In” poker chips in a place where it will remind them daily of their commitment to being “All In.”

Far-reaching message

Gonzalez’s motivational message of being “All In” has reached people across the world; he has traveled across the nation as a motivational speaker for many corporate, athletic, government and educational institutions, and has been featured on ESPN, Fox News and CNN. One of his most notable clients is the 2010-2011 New York Giants football team. He is credited by many of the team’s players with providing them with the inspiration needed to win the 2011 Super Bowl.
“Gian Paul Gonzalez relates so effortlessly to any audience," said West Milford High School Principal Paul Gorski. "His message of being "All In" is not just a slogan, it is a way of life. His words and example of community engagement are an inspiration, and he has invited us all to not just reflect, but to act."
“Gian Paul Gonzalez delivers a message that is inspirational and energizing regardless of age, occupation, or socioeconomic status." said Dan Novak, West Milford Schools' director of Education. "His message of 'All In' has been a rallying cry for our staff for about a year and I'm extremely excited that we were able to share this powerful presentation with our students and families.”