West Jordan High Outstanding graduate: leads by example
May 30, 2022 06:04PM ● By Jet BurnhamBy Jet Burnham | [email protected]
What is most impressive about West Jordan High School graduate Boston Farmer, a straight-A student and three-sport athlete, is his outstanding leadership.
“He does a great job of keeping the team together and calm even in stressful situations,” WJHS basketball coach Christian Wouden said. “I remember how great he played and how much he did for our team when we played Mountain Ridge at home. He was a game changer that day—not because of his scoring, but because of how he led the team, which he did all year long.”
Wouden said having Boston, who is a great competitor and team player, on the team is like having an extra coach on the court. His teammates selected Boston, who has played varsity point guard for three years, for the B.L.U.E. Strong Award, given to the player that best exemplifies the team’s values.
Football coach Ron Halbert said Boston also led by example on the football team, as the varsity quarterback.
“Our younger kids look up to him as a person, as a student and as a player,” Halbert said. “I'm glad that he was around to show those young kids because we hope we have a lot more because of him.”
He said Boston strengthened the team.
“He was always upbeat,” he said. “Even if we had something go wrong, he was able to put that away and bring his teammates and himself to a better attitude and to work on trying to get better.”
Boston represented WJHS on the basketball, football and track teams. Despite the frequent coach turnover, Boston stayed loyal to WJHS and believes he benefited from the experience.
“Getting to know all these different coaches, having to adapt to their differences and personalities, I think that's a valuable skill to learn in life, because change happens a lot,” Boston said. “I think that's one of the best things, is being able to adapt to change and adapt to what life throws at you.”
Boston said the biggest takeaway from his high school experience is the teamwork and leadership skills he gained.
“I think that's such a great skill to have in life with anything you do, because you're always with people and you always have to communicate with them and work with them, and so being able to be on a team teaches you communication and patience,” he said.
Boston organized service projects for the football team. He also started the Athletic Letter Club at WJHS to bring athletes from different sports together through social activities and service projects.
Boston also served on the Seminary Council and is an Eagle Scout.
Boston said high school has been the best time of his life and his advice to other students is to appreciate the experience.
“You can learn a lot through high school, in athletics and just going to school,” he said. “All those kids that skip school and hate school, they're missing out on the best time of their life.”
After graduation, Boston will be serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then studying to become a mechanical engineer.