Mount Vernon High School

September 15, 2023 In Greek mythology, Achilles was the strongest and fiercest warrior in the Greek army. He was almost invincible. That’s because as a baby, his mother - the immortal sea goddess Thetis - did all she could to make him immortal, too. She submerged him in the River Styx, whose magic waters were said to confer the invulnerability of the gods. She gripped him tightly by the back of the foot as she dipped him into the water - gripped him so tightly, in fact, that the magic water never touched his heel. As a result, Achilles became invincible everywhere but there. As a fighter, Achilles exuded confidence in his own ability and instilled confidence in those around him. With Achilles leading the way, victory seemed sure. But in the midst of his final battle, something happened that no one could have anticipated. He was shot and killed by an arrow that struck him, off all places, in the heel. His area of weakness and vulnerability - his “Achilles heel,” as it’s come to be known - was unexpectedly revealed. I got to thinking about Achilles and his story this week because, as a new pro football season kicked off, his name's been in the headlines. Every season brings with it a renewed sense of hope and optimism for all 32 NFL teams and their fans, but maybe no team or fanbase was more hopeful headed into this season than the long-suffering New York Jets. It's a franchise that's been mired in mediocrity for the better part of 50 years, since their one and only Super Bowl appearance - a victory way back in 1969. Jets fans are notoriously negative, but usually for good reason. Their team typically stinks. This year, however, seemed anything but typical. This summer, the Jets signed free agent and future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in what became the biggest storyline of the NFL offseason. As one of the great signal-callers of all time, Rodgers brought with him to New York more than just high expectations and irrational hope. He brought a resumé that included four league MVPs and a Super Bowl title of his own. From the moment he signed, Rodgers brought a strong sense of confidence in his own ability and instilled confidence in his Jet teammates, coaches, and fans. With Aaron Rodgers leading the way, victory seemed sure. But in Sunday night’s home opener against the Bills, something happened that no one could have anticipated. On the first drive with his new team, Rodgers was taken down by a Bills defender…and couldn’t get back up. Three and a half minutes into this new season with this new team, Rodgers’ Achilles tendon had ruptured, instantly ending his season and rupturing along with it that confidence that seemed so strong only moments before. The Jets went on to win the game, but the mood around the team and the fanbase was undeniable. Just like that, their weakness and vulnerability had been exposed. Aaron Rodgers’ unexpected Achilles injury highlights the harsh reality of life and performance in any meaningful area - that you just never know when that arrow of adversity will come flying in. Especially when you’re good at what you do, when you have a high level of confidence in yourself, and when you instill a high level of confidence in those around you, it can be easy to paint in your mind a perfect picture of how your performance will play out. The Greek army probably envisioned Achilles leading them to victory, just like the Jets did Aaron Rodgers. You may find yourself envisioning your road to success on a regular basis, too. There’s value in that vision, of course, but we also have to remember that those arrows can come flying in, usually out of nowhere, even when we least expect it. It's important to be prepared. I have no idea how Achilles’ fellow soldiers responded when they saw their leader go down. I also have no idea how the New York Jets will respond now that they find themselves in a similar situation. But I do know that those who responded most effectively back in ancient Greece, and those who will respond most effectively in New York City moving forward will be those who’ve prepared themselves for adversity long before it's ever arrived. That’s the big takeaway for each of us here today. Despite the confidence we have in ourselves or the confidence we instill in those around us, now is the time to prepare for those unexpected challenges to come. There is of course no way to know how or when the weakness and vulnerability of your Achilles heel may be revealed. And while no one enjoys sitting around thinking about everything that could go wrong - nor do I think that’s the most effective approach for you to take - I do think there’s value in deciding now, long before those arrows ever start flying, who it is you’ll choose to be and how it is you’ll choose to respond when adversity comes for you.  -Travis