Being the athletic director of a one the largest school districts in the state is truly an honor. Working with over 125 staff members from physical education, health, nurses and athletics there is never a day that goes by where nothing is going on.

I would have never thought that working Monday through Saturday and putting in over 60-hour work weeks would be something I looked forward to every single morning.

The decision to become an athletic director was one that developed over time for me. When I first graduated from Hofstra University with my degree in physical education all I could think about was becoming a physical education teacher and coaching a football program to a Long Island Championship.

It still amazes me how my goals changed year-to-year. I was lucky to work my entire teaching career in the Baldwin School District as an elementary physical education teacher, coach varsity track and field and junior varsity football. I was lucky to work with a lot of great student-athletes and staff while in Baldwin. The most gratifying achievement was watching alumni come back season after season from college and their new careers and seeing how the program was progressing and keeping in contact with me.

After 11 years of being a teacher and coach I realized that I wanted to make an impact on a much larger scale and the only way to do that was through administration. Currently in my third year at Middle Country and my fifth year as an athletic administrator, it is a privilege to work and try to give as many students and athletes the best possible experience on a daily basis. Some of my favorite moments in Middle Country have been hosting events such as National Signing Day and end-of-season ceremonies. Helping student-athletes achieve their goals on and off the field is a daily driving force.

Being an athletic director and working with so many different people, I have learned that in order to accomplish goals it has to be a true team effort. Thankfully I have two assistants and two coordinators that are absolutely sensational at their jobs. They ensure that the day to day tasks run smoothly and efficiently. In addition, my colleagues in Section XI with all of their experience are never more than a phone call away and eager to assist in any questions I may have.

As I look forward to the years to come I hope that I can have a positive influence on student athletes, parents, coaches and teachers in the Middle Country School District and in Section XI.

Joseph Mercado is Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics of the Middle Country School District.