Photo: Christopher Polk/GettyAs part of our annualKindness Issueand celebrity stories of the kindest thing they’ve ever experienced, Emmy winning actress and former collegiate track starUzo Adubashared withPEOPLEher love and appreciation for two impactful college coaches. The following is Aduba’s account of that kindness in her own words.I ran track in college [at Boston University], and I had amazing coaches: a husband-and-wife duo named Bruce and Lesley Lehane. Even though we were there as athletes, they really put into our spirits how to take the sport and apply it to becoming good, solid humans.We think about coaches being big, loud, yelly people, but these two had such a gentle streak. Bruce has passed on, sadly, but they were like senseis, philosophers. Lesley was really quiet, but her words had fire in them. She had an ability to turn her voice into your inner voice.Paul Marotta/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.They loved their athletes, and not just because they loved the sport. It was bigger than that for them. They would talk about focusing on your own race and the idea of not concentrating on the distractions in lanes to your left or right. They showed me that you can lead with a nurturing hand and helped me recognize that we’re all part of a larger sum. For the machine to work, respect and care need to be given to all parts, big and small. That is kindness.I was able to bring a lot of what I learned on the track into my art and my life. And that encouraging voice—I definitely still hear it and respond to that uplift.I still say it to myself: “You got this. You can do this.“Aduba’s new filmNational Championsarrives in theaters Dec. 10. She is alsostarring inClyde’son Broadway beginning Nov. 23.
Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty
As part of our annualKindness Issueand celebrity stories of the kindest thing they’ve ever experienced, Emmy winning actress and former collegiate track starUzo Adubashared withPEOPLEher love and appreciation for two impactful college coaches. The following is Aduba’s account of that kindness in her own words.I ran track in college [at Boston University], and I had amazing coaches: a husband-and-wife duo named Bruce and Lesley Lehane. Even though we were there as athletes, they really put into our spirits how to take the sport and apply it to becoming good, solid humans.We think about coaches being big, loud, yelly people, but these two had such a gentle streak. Bruce has passed on, sadly, but they were like senseis, philosophers. Lesley was really quiet, but her words had fire in them. She had an ability to turn her voice into your inner voice.Paul Marotta/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.They loved their athletes, and not just because they loved the sport. It was bigger than that for them. They would talk about focusing on your own race and the idea of not concentrating on the distractions in lanes to your left or right. They showed me that you can lead with a nurturing hand and helped me recognize that we’re all part of a larger sum. For the machine to work, respect and care need to be given to all parts, big and small. That is kindness.I was able to bring a lot of what I learned on the track into my art and my life. And that encouraging voice—I definitely still hear it and respond to that uplift.I still say it to myself: “You got this. You can do this.“Aduba’s new filmNational Championsarrives in theaters Dec. 10. She is alsostarring inClyde’son Broadway beginning Nov. 23.
As part of our annualKindness Issueand celebrity stories of the kindest thing they’ve ever experienced, Emmy winning actress and former collegiate track starUzo Adubashared withPEOPLEher love and appreciation for two impactful college coaches. The following is Aduba’s account of that kindness in her own words.
I ran track in college [at Boston University], and I had amazing coaches: a husband-and-wife duo named Bruce and Lesley Lehane. Even though we were there as athletes, they really put into our spirits how to take the sport and apply it to becoming good, solid humans.
We think about coaches being big, loud, yelly people, but these two had such a gentle streak. Bruce has passed on, sadly, but they were like senseis, philosophers. Lesley was really quiet, but her words had fire in them. She had an ability to turn her voice into your inner voice.
Paul Marotta/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
They loved their athletes, and not just because they loved the sport. It was bigger than that for them. They would talk about focusing on your own race and the idea of not concentrating on the distractions in lanes to your left or right. They showed me that you can lead with a nurturing hand and helped me recognize that we’re all part of a larger sum. For the machine to work, respect and care need to be given to all parts, big and small. That is kindness.
I was able to bring a lot of what I learned on the track into my art and my life. And that encouraging voice—I definitely still hear it and respond to that uplift.
I still say it to myself: “You got this. You can do this.”
Aduba’s new filmNational Championsarrives in theaters Dec. 10. She is alsostarring inClyde’son Broadway beginning Nov. 23.
source: people.com
