by Maryam Abdul-Qauiyy
For New Pittsburgh Courier
“If you notice your child has an affinity for something then sacrifice, save money, and invest in your child’s interests,” said Nancy Hines.
As the mother of 8-year-old Drew Hines, a rising track star whose natural talent is not only noticeable, but exceptionally impressive, Nancy Hines is aware that her daughter’s success lies in an unwavering support system. “Let your child go as far as they can go with their interests. Make all the resources available to them.”
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| DREW HINES |
Drew attends Penn Hills Forbes Elementary School, where she is a second-grade student and is coached by Carlson Christian. Under his tutelage Drew earned first place on Feb. 26, as she competed in the USA Track and Field Championships for the Northeast in New Jersey. Immediately following these wins, Drew was invited to the USATF National Indoor Championships in Chicago on March 10 where she won every race she competed in. Not only did she win every race, but she also set the record for her age group in the 55-meters, finishing in 9.26 and 200 meters, finishing in 33.77. Coincidentally, Drew also celebrated her birthday on this day.
When asked who she admired Drew answered, “Florence Griffith Joyner because of her hair and nails.” Not only does Drew have books on Joyner, but stated that she “likes her fashion” as well. She has high aspirations as she confidently stated her future plans.
“I wanna be a secret agent! Because I’ve seen a lot of James Bond movies.” She giggled and then took a moment to consider another possibility, “Or I think I’ll be a track coach, because I really like track.”
Rick Hines, Drew’s father, commented how his daughter got involved in this sport, “I happened to see Drew running in the back yard one day and noticed how graceful and fast she was. She’s a natural born runner, I thought.”
He was set on nurturing his daughter’s talents when he noticed her natural ability two years ago. “And I thought we have to get her out there.” He was an athlete during high school. “I played football and ran track all of high school. I was a distance runner. So what I noticed in Drew came from my own experience and knowledge.”
Drew’s parents are committed to their daughter’s success but are also aware that there needs to be a balance between school, track, and other activities. “We always make sure that she does homework first.” Nancy Hines stated. Drew has practice four days a week from 6:30-8:30 p.m., where she has a rigorous work out of 75 sit-ups and 75 push-ups, which are completed in three sets of 25.
“She gets 9-10 hours of sleep,” the father added. “She’s just a regular kid. She does her homework, goes to practice and then she’s out.”
When asked if Drew was pressured to perform well, the mother, “Coach Christian is really well balanced. Drew is practicing with a group of 20 children, older children. But the pressure comes from herself. Drew gets frustrated at times and puts a lot of pressure on herself to win and beat records.
“Drew knows that we support and love her whether she wins or not and we remind her of that often. We just have to look for balance.”
Even though Drew is a disciplined and dedicated student and athlete, she makes time to have fun. When asked about a favorite movie, she replied, “My favorite movie is “Selena,” I like the singing and the outfits.” She also added, “And I love wings and pizza.” Her family frequents JT’s Rib Shack in Penn Hills and she always has a fresh plate, put aside by owner, James Taylor.
“Drew has fun. She’s going to a birthday party soon,” the mother said. “But she’s not the type of kid who doesn’t listen though. She’s very disciplined and by the book.”
Drew comes from a high achieving family and her strong dedication to track is a result of the people in her immediate environment.
“It’s just automatic for her,” Nancy Hines commented, “She doesn’t understand why some of her classmates won’t listen or choose not to do their work or choose not to do it well, she doesn’t understand that. She could be good at whatever she chooses to do because she’s so focused.”
“I’m very proud of her,” the father said. “Never have I seen a kid work harder and not complain.” When asked about Drew’s future and whether it would be in track he said, “In our family, college is expected and we are setting Drew up for that option. And the option of what she ultimately chooses to do while in college is up to her, but I think track will be that option.”
When speaking to Drew one notices instantly that she is not only a joy to be around, but a little lady. Her future, whether in track or not, appears bright. The unwavering support and dedication of her mother and father are unlimited and will serve as constant support no matter her interests.
The mother advice for parents who notice potential in their children no matter what, “Don’t be just a parent to your child. Invest in your child.”