Every month we are interviewing one of the young men in our After School program. This month we meet seventh-grader Chris Chatman.
Tell us about your family and other important people in your life.
Well, there’s my mother, she’s a hard worker. She pays the bills and takes care of me. My grandfather helps me with a lot of things when my mom isn’t there, he takes care of me too, and he feeds me. My dad always works multiple jobs to take care of my half and step-siblings and me.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject is math. I love using numbers and working with equations. Numbers are a very important part of life. I also like physical education, because I get to improve my basketball skills and work toward my goal of playing in the NBA.
What do you want to be when you grow up, and why?
I want to be a lawyer, because I want to fulfill my mother’s dream, if she doesn’t complete it. And I also want to become a professional basketball player, because I love the sport.
What is your favorite part of what we do at The Bridge Golf Foundation? How do you think it will prepare you for the future?
My favorite thing to do at the Foundation is to play golf. It’s a sport that I can go play with my friends, and one day maybe I can become a golf instructor like Randy or Brian.
Besides golf, what other sports do you enjoy playing? Do you have a preference between playing individual or team sports?
I also like to swim and play football, along with basketball. I prefer playing team sports; I like having teammates to work with in practice that I can improve with, so that I can play as well as possible in games. In basketball, I like to play point guard and shooting guard. In football, I’m a wide receiver.
Do any particular lessons stand out in your memory?
My science experiments with golf have been good. Professor Broadie from Columbia University came for a few lessons and taught us how to use scientific data to figure out who was the best putter. We putted from 5 feet, 10 feet, and 15 feet, took data from the x axis and y axis, and used all of the information to calculate who was the best putter. It turned out to be me.
What is your favorite trip since joining the program?
I really liked the trip to The Bridge. We got to eat and look at the golf course. I like the hamburgers they have there. We learned how the golf course works, and how to play when it’s wet and when it’s dry.
What’s the strongest part of your golf game right now?
Believe it or not, it isn’t putting. I’d actually say that I’m strongest in chipping.
What is one fact that nobody in our program knows about you?
I like broccoli, corn, and spinach.
What are your favorite sports teams/athletes/music/video games?
Cleveland Cavaliers; Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry; Drake; NBA 2k17.
We’ve covered a lot of ground in Character Education/Service Learning this year. Can you give any examples of how those areas of study have impacted you as an individual in our program and in your daily life?
I learned that I can give to other people and make a difference in the lives of others.