Written by Sophia Swarr, Upland Junior Writer
Just last month, Upland Country Day School welcomed a very special guest onto our campus to talk to upper schoolers about the value of finding fun and lightheartedness in even the most laborious tasks. Dave Raymond, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, believer in “the power of fun” and original wearer of the Phillie Phanatic costume, took the time to come into Upland and answer the questions from grades sixth through ninth about finding joy in school, work, other stress or pain in life, and being a leader. He also took the time to talk with me personally to elaborate on these points.
For starters, you may be wondering how someone even gets into being a mascot like Dave Raymond did. Well, when he was younger, Raymond wanted to be a football coach after college, just like his father. However, his father stuck him with a job at the Phillies. Seeing as he was just the intern then, he was the guinea pig for the Phillies’ new mascot idea; the Philly Phanatic! Raymond realized just how hard it was to be a mascot, commonly telling the story of how he was so tired after going downstairs in the stadium, he jumped the fence and ran across the field instead of trekking back up! After putting in the necessary work for mascot-ting, he realized that when he put on the costume, he was a completely different being. “Dave Raymond” floated away into space, and the mind and actions of the Philly Phanatic enveloped him in the stadium. This came in handy when his mother got sick and passed away. One day, he seriously planned on doing his final Phanatic show and ending his own life as soon as he got home. However, forgetting about Dave Raymond’s life and seeing the joy on people’s faces when the Phanatic came around, his whole attitude had changed, and all he could hope for was the Phanatic’s next performance! This was the moment he realized that if all people could find joy in even the most painful moments and laborious tasks, it could help everyone.
Along with “The Power of Fun,” which he has established, he is also known for his leadership skills. He believes that great leaders show people that they truly care, while also letting people know when they have gotten out of line. He says character ethic is another important factor of a good leader. For example, when asked what leadership or character ethics have helped you, he claimed that people in your life are going to model you. As a speaker or a leader in a room full of people, he always aims to say or answer something that would move everybody in the room. In fact, the job of a speaker is to say something that will cause at least one person in the room to think or act differently. One person who seems to be a model in his life is his daughter, who went through trial and error to find her dream job, something she found joy in. She found her passion, and that is what he believes many people should do, even if it takes a long time. It may take a while, and be hard to discover, but “you have to try to understand what your passion is and do your best to follow,” Raymond remarks.
Dave Raymond is an iconic man, whose goal and passion is to inform people of the power of finding joy and fun in pain and stress. He personifies what it means to persevere. From suicidal thoughts to an empowering speaker, he embodies self-control, true happiness, hard work, and resilience. While he claims he learned these values later in life than most people, most people also never discover these principles. It is extraordinarily important and magnificent that he has brought these ideas to the world and found that it was his calling. It is highly encouraged that readers listen to his words for a more fulfilled, joyous life!
