The April 2009 issue of Ebony features an autobiographical article by Myron Rolle, a highly sought after former Florida State University football player and alumni... As if being featured in Ebony isn't a huge accomplishment in itself, Rolle has loftier goals and aspirations.
Rolle, is not your stereotypical jock. He is a Rhodes scholar.
As a high school senior Rolle received 83 scholarship offers based on his abilities in football, however unlike many of our youth today, football was not the only thing he had in mind when choosing the university that he would attend. He had academic aspirations as well. Although he enjoyed the game and planned to pursue a career in football, his ultimate goal was to be a pre-med major and to become a doctor. His goals still remain in line.
Although he is certain that he would be a first round pick in this years NFL draft, he has decided to postpone his football career, to study medical anthropology as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. He is looking past today, to a future of greatness, "My football skills won't wane in one year, and I look forward to returning to football in 2010," he claims.
Myron Rolle holds a special place in my heart, although I've never met him a day in my life. He represents what every aspiring athlete should aspire to become. He represents a different kind of athlete, one who has his priorities in line, unlike many ghetto superstar high school athletes of today. I would advise the parents and/or caretakers of any ambitious young athlete to take a page out of Myron Rolle's parents notebook, and teach their children that there is more to life than sports; that through hard work on and off of the court, field, gym, etc. you can and will reach your goals.
I will leave you with Rolle's closing paragraph, as I couldn't have said it better myself:
Rolle, is not your stereotypical jock. He is a Rhodes scholar.
As a high school senior Rolle received 83 scholarship offers based on his abilities in football, however unlike many of our youth today, football was not the only thing he had in mind when choosing the university that he would attend. He had academic aspirations as well. Although he enjoyed the game and planned to pursue a career in football, his ultimate goal was to be a pre-med major and to become a doctor. His goals still remain in line.
Although he is certain that he would be a first round pick in this years NFL draft, he has decided to postpone his football career, to study medical anthropology as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. He is looking past today, to a future of greatness, "My football skills won't wane in one year, and I look forward to returning to football in 2010," he claims.
Myron Rolle holds a special place in my heart, although I've never met him a day in my life. He represents what every aspiring athlete should aspire to become. He represents a different kind of athlete, one who has his priorities in line, unlike many ghetto superstar high school athletes of today. I would advise the parents and/or caretakers of any ambitious young athlete to take a page out of Myron Rolle's parents notebook, and teach their children that there is more to life than sports; that through hard work on and off of the court, field, gym, etc. you can and will reach your goals.
I will leave you with Rolle's closing paragraph, as I couldn't have said it better myself:
My advice to Black youngsters is to not let sports be your onlySincerely,
option. Create opportunities by reading, gaining knowledge and meeting
people. We might not have heard of Barack Hussien Obama if he had only
pursued his dream of basketball. But you see his backup plan-- the one
where he wanted to be the president of the United States-- worked out pretty
well for him. You can do the same.
TSH
*Grab the April 2009 issue of Ebony Magazine to check out the entire article.
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