#26 (non-fiction) The importance of the viral Jordan Spieth thank-you note

      Last weekend was the Masters at Augusta, one of the most exciting weeks of the year for golfers like myself. Only the best of the best are allowed to compete in it, and it never fails to satisfy a golf fans love for competition and thrill. This year's Masters made history as Jordan Spieth  won the tournament at 21 years old, tying Tiger Woods, and was the first ever to reach 19 under par. However, this editorial isn't all about golf but how we must be as people. Peter Post uses Spieth's credibility and uses the a note that Spieth wrote as a highschooler to show how we must strive to become people like Jordan Spieth.
     
   Post uses testimonies about Jordan Spieth to build Spieth's credibility as a role model. What's amazing about Spieth is, "what a truly nice guy he is. He is not only the epitome of the athlete who can perform at the highest levels — people also like him. Phil Mickelson said it best right after the round when he was asked about Spieth: “He’s obviously a tremendous player, but he’s just a tremendous individual, too. He’s really been a lot of fun to have on the past Ryders Cup and Presidents Cup teams. He’s just a quality individual. I think it’s hard not to like, not to pull for, the guy.” Not only is he a great golfer, but he a great person. He is talent mix with a real human side to him that makes him the perfect role model for people.

   Post then goes on to explain how Spieth wrote a thank you note to the people who awarded him a scholarship in high school. Post states that, "what is really impressive is that he wrote the note — not a perfunctory thank you but a genuine, heartfelt thank you that addressed the importance of academics as well as golf in his teenage world." In this world of email and quick communication, the high school Spieth took his time to hand write a genuine thank you letter. The actual letter that Spieth wrote shows the Spieth human side and has a sense of innocence that really appeals to pathos and the emotional part of the audience. 

    Thank-you notes matter because they reflect that you are someone who knows how to show appreciation for a gift, a favor, or an opportunity. It is such a simple device, yet they help us to build relationships in ways we may not even imagine. We should all take a lesson from Spieth on how to write a thank-you note that demonstrates genuine appreciation in the moment."

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