Choose to be Great: Mountains (Y2:E16)

~ Angelo DelliSanti

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of seeing the Rocky Mountains in person for the very first time. Walking down the concourse in the Colorado Springs airport, I came across a panoramic window that provided my first view of the mountains. I stood there for a few moments, truly in awe of the size compared to the Appalachian Mountains I’d grown up visiting. I spent the next three days in a hotel with a front-row view of Pike’s Peak, and the feeling of awe never really left me. This weekend, I had the privilege of spending time with two cousins in Colorado, and again, those majestic mountains were ever-present.

Mountains represent so much, don’t they? Life goals we’ve yet to accomplish, freedom, the demons we struggle with, adventure, sacred things.

Regardless of what they represent to you, all mountains ask humanity the same question: Can you conquer me? It’s in that question where we realize that they don’t just exist in the physical world; mountains exist in all of our lives. We’ve all conquered some of them, but more peaks can always be seen when we look at the horizon of our lives.

I don’t know how many mountains you’ve conquered or have left to scale, but I invite you to reflect on them for just a moment. Wherever you are on your journey, I hope you’ll take a moment to remember to stop and take it all in the next time you find yourself on a summit. We don’t often drink as deeply as we should from those rare moments. If you’re looking ahead and don’t see any mountains, I’d encourage you to look harder and find some that are worth the climb. If you’re tired of the climb, I’d remind you that the view from the top will be worth it. Keep climbing. Finally, for those of you who see many mountains left to climb, make sure you are choosing the right ones. Not all of them are worth your effort.

Choose to be Great!

Angelo

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Published by Angelo DelliSanti

“Education? You don’t want to do that with your life. You’ve got other plans.” That’s what Angelo DelliSanti’s high school counselor told him his senior year. And she was right—at first. Angelo had spent three years preparing to become a U.S. Navy officer. But an internship with a math teacher during his senior year changed everything. Helping struggling students master algebra sparked a passion for education that would shape his career. Over the next 15 years, Angelo served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, returning to his alma mater to teach World History and later advancing to leadership roles. As a principal, Angelo implemented the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process, leading to remarkable academic gains, increased scholarships, record-breaking graduation rates, and improved school culture. These achievements earned him recognition as the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Principal of the Year in 2018. In 2022, Angelo joined Capturing Kids’ Hearts as a Leadership Solutions Strategist where he is dedicated to working together with school leaders to create remarkable schools. He holds a Bachelor’s in History and Secondary Education from UNC Charlotte, where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. He also completed a Master’s in School Administration and completed all the required coursework for a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from his alma mater, earning the Outstanding Student Philip Morris Educational Fellowship in 2017. Angelo lives in North Carolina with his wife, Kasey, whom he married in 2008. Together, they enjoy escapes to the mountains and beaches. Angelo’s passions include golf, non-fiction books, cooking, and sharing meals filled with laughter and connection around the table.

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