I don’t know that I was made for Duke, or that Duke was made for me. I do know that Duke made me. Without overstatement, everything I have done and enjoyed in my adult life was made possible because of my time at – and relationship with – Duke University. Duke shaped who I am and, in many ways, made me who I am. For that, I am forever grateful to be Forever Duke.
I was beyond fortunate to wind up at Duke because, as a Southern California kid in the early 1980s, I had no earthly idea where Duke even was or what it offered. Duke came to me when Coach K recruited me to play basketball. Without that happening, there is no way I would have found Duke.
Consider what I would have missed: I played for and was mentored by the best coach and leader the game has known. Through his teaching, mentorship and friendship that has lasted to this day, I learned preparation, resilience, toughness, teamwork and accountability. These have served me well in every aspect of my work and my life. Basketball opened the door to the university and all of its talented students, professors and administrators who dedicated service to each one of us. The Duke ecosystem shaped me, and the lifetime relationship with Duke has been a force multiplier in my life.
I met my wife at Duke. Our kids feel like they grew up in Cameron. Our daughter went to Duke. My wife and I are frequent visitors to campus to serve, give back as best we can, and to maintain a connection with a place that changed our lives in such profound ways. Although the fundraising department may differ, I cannot ever repay Duke, Coach K or all of those at Duke who went out of their way to open doors for me that would never have been possible without Duke. When I think about my relationship with Duke, my overwhelming feeling is gratitude. If the quality of my life is measured by the quality of people with whom I have associated, how could my life have been any better? I wasn’t made for Duke. Duke made me.