What Ted Lasso and I Have in Common: A Reflection on Growth, Belief, and Being Our Best Selves

Image courtesy of Apple TV+ | Ted Lasso press photo

It’s Saturday morning, 5 AM. As I prepare for another camp week, I find myself rewatching Ted Lasso Season 1, and there's something oddly perfect about starting my day with his infectious optimism and unwavering belief in people. In one particular episode, Ted tells journalist Trent Crimm something that stopped me in my tracks:

"Success for me isn't about the wins and losses. It's about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field. And it ain't always easy, Trent, but neither is growing up without someone believing in you." - Ted Lasso

Those words hit differently when you're in the middle of running summer camps. Because as I sat there in the pre-dawn quiet, I realized that Ted's philosophy for his team is exactly the same as our mission at Perfectly Me. We want to help kids be their best selves, even when it's hard.

And this summer, there were a lot of moments that were indeed hard. Moments that showed how far we’ve come and where we can continue to improve. 

Growing Pains and Growing Up

This summer marked a season of significant expansion for us. We grew so much that I now see kids walking around in our camp shirts whom I've never personally met. There was a time when knowing every single camper personally filled me with immense pride, but I've come to understand that we can't achieve the growth we want (and to make the impact we want to make in the world) if I personally know every camper. For me, these new faces at camp represent a bittersweet reality of success.

We grew immensely this year, launching new programs and expanding existing ones across multiple locations:

• SportsHero Camp finally found its footing at our Roland Park location after a failed attempt last summer at a different location.

• StemHero Camp evolved from a school break camp option to a full camp experience, delivered at both Roland Park and the Community Resource Center through our Community Camp partnership with Bon Secours Community Works.

• We continued our beloved SuperHero Camp at Roland Park, Harford Day School, and our Garden Village location in partnership with the Community Assistance Network.

• Perhaps most exciting was the launch of KindergartenHero Camp, a school readiness program designed to help rising kindergarteners build their independence, confidence, kindness, and responsibility. That camp was absolutely amazing to witness.

The Magic Moments

Just like how Ted saw potential in every player on his team, I watched our campers discover things about themselves they never knew existed. We witnessed kids who were causing challenges at the beginning of the week transform into leaders by Friday. We saw children who had never been in an inclusive environment develop their compassion and community hero values by sharing space with shy kids, nervous kids, and neurodivergent campers - and everyone in between.

We watched kids build perseverance when camp friends accidentally (or sometimes intentionally) broke RC cars, knocked down Magna-tile towers, and smashed Lego creations. We celebrated heroes who strived for and earned five kindness bands, stretching themselves to ensure everyone felt included.

These weren't just camp activities—they were life lessons in disguise.

The Misses Along with the Hits

Not everything went according to plan, and that's okay. Our Heroes in Action Camp—a project-based leadership program for upper elementary and middle school kids—didn't get the enrollment numbers needed to run. We had a powerful summer planned, filled with real-world challenges and meaningful leadership growth, and it was disappointing not to see it come to life.

But as Ted Lasso once told his team:

“Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.” - Ted Lasso

Trying new things can be uncomfortable. But that’s how we know we’re stretching—and how we know we’re learning. With growth came complexity: new programs, new team members, and the need to operate in more locations than ever before. Every challenging step this summer taught us something. About slowing down to speed up. About building stronger foundations.

And about the importance of holding onto belief, especially when things feel off-track. Because that’s when belief matters most—not just in our campers, but in ourselves and each other.

The Belief That Changes Everything

Ted Lasso's superpower wasn't his knowledge of soccer (which, let's be honest, was questionable at first). His superpower was his unwavering belief in people. He saw potential where others saw problems. He offered encouragement where others offered criticism. He created space for growth where others built walls.

That's what we strive to do at Perfectly Me. Whether I've personally met each camper or not, I believe in every single one of them. I want the best for them, and I want them to be their best—not just during camp week, but as they head home and into their school year.

Image courtesy of Apple TV+ | Ted Lasso press photo

Beyond the Camp Walls

My hope mirrors Ted's hope for his players: that the growth, the lessons, the moments of believing in themselves will extend far beyond our camp walls:

• That the kindergartener who learned to tie their shoes independently will tackle new challenges with that same determination.

  
  

• That the third grader who learned to include the quiet kid will continue to be kind in their classroom.

• That the camper who earned all five kindness bands will remember that feeling of using their superpowers for good and chase that feeling again and again.

Because like Ted Lasso reminds us, it's not about the wins and losses. It's about helping young people become the best versions of themselves. And sometimes, in the process of believing in them, we remember how to believe in ourselves too.

As I finish my espresso and continue to prepare for the week ahead, I'm carrying Ted's wisdom with me: "Be curious, not judgmental." "Believe." And most importantly, never underestimate the power of someone believing in you—or the power of you believing in someone else.

Here's to another week of helping heroes discover just how heroic they can be.