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In junior year of high school, Kirk Mango found his passion for sports and has continued to pursue his interest both personally and professionally.
Mango, a physical education teacher, has begun giving inspirational speeches to students in Downers Grove South High School. Mango said he believes in the last 30 years he has noticed athletes and students are more about short term gratification than putting effort into a long term goal and success.
“I think it has been gradual and I think it is expanding now — the short term gratification,” Mango said. “It’s the ‘I want it now’ entitlement and ‘I deserve this because I am’ instead of the need to work.”
Mango’s inspirational speeches help students to dig into their potential and see the big picture.
The focus is on what people can accomplish when they put forth the effort and sacrifices to make things happen, Mango said.
Along with his speeches, Mango has written the book, “Becoming a True Champion,” which targets audiences 14-years-old and older. The book explains honors and awards are just things but the real value is going through the process of achieving those rewards, Mango said.
“The point is the intrinsic things that one gets out of the effort they put in and less value on materialistic things or money,” Mango said.
Sports and athletes are used as a tool in the book but Mango said the same principals can apply to anyone in any endeavor.
“I just want to inspire people to be more,” Mango said. “I see so much more and that is why I became a teacher.”
Notable
Selected as number eight in Northern Illinois top 50 athletes of all time
Wrote “Becoming a True Champion”
& quotable
“The power to become whatever and whomever you decide and the realization that you have this power is one of the greatest gifts a person can give themselves,” Mango said.
Philosophy on life
“Try to work toward doing the best you possibly can in whatever endeavors or passions you have,” Mango said.
Favorites
MOVIE “Miracle”
FOOD Pizza
AUTHOR Michael Chrichton
HOBBY Tennis and fishing
In junior year of high school, Kirk Mango found his passion for sports and has continued to pursue his interest both personally and professionally.
Mango, a physical education teacher, has begun giving inspirational speeches to students in Downers Grove South High School. Mango said he believes in the last 30 years he has noticed athletes and students are more about short term gratification than putting effort into a long term goal and success.
“I think it has been gradual and I think it is expanding now — the short term gratification,” Mango said. “It’s the ‘I want it now’ entitlement and ‘I deserve this because I am’ instead of the need to work.”
Mango’s inspirational speeches help students to dig into their potential and see the big picture.
The focus is on what people can accomplish when they put forth the effort and sacrifices to make things happen, Mango said.
Along with his speeches, Mango has written the book, “Becoming a True Champion,” which targets audiences 14-years-old and older. The book explains honors and awards are just things but the real value is going through the process of achieving those rewards, Mango said.
“The point is the intrinsic things that one gets out of the effort they put in and less value on materialistic things or money,” Mango said.
Sports and athletes are used as a tool in the book but Mango said the same principals can apply to anyone in any endeavor.
“I just want to inspire people to be more,” Mango said. “I see so much more and that is why I became a teacher.”
Notable
Selected as number eight in Northern Illinois top 50 athletes of all time
Wrote “Becoming a True Champion”
& quotable
“The power to become whatever and whomever you decide and the realization that you have this power is one of the greatest gifts a person can give themselves,” Mango said.
Philosophy on life
“Try to work toward doing the best you possibly can in whatever endeavors or passions you have,” Mango said.
Favorites
MOVIE “Miracle”
FOOD Pizza
AUTHOR Michael Chrichton
HOBBY Tennis and fishing
