Alright champ, here's the deal. Your entire life, people are gonna be telling you you can't do certain things. You can't play wide receiver, you can't ride this rollercoaster, you can't say you didn't like La La Land despite only seeing the first hour. The people saying that aren't looking out for you. Sure, it might be your mom or dad telling you that. But I'm gonna be the first to tell you: they're just in it for themselves. They have their view of how the world works, which was implanted into everyone's brain by the Reagan administration in 1984. I say ditch those suckers. Drop out of school. Join a traveling circus. Become Bojo the Mediterranean Clown. Get mixed up in the drug smuggling business. Move to Colombia. Meet Pablo Escobar. Get arrested. Become a DEA informant. And then when that's done, maybe try to do a bit better in school because getting an education is more important than anything. I went to Bemidji State University. I'm not getting any job offers if I tear something, god forbid.
The first thing I tell my young relative is that it’s not all about athleticism and skill on the field. You have to be smart and wise off the field in order to put yourself in the best position to succeed, no matter what you’re doing. I then tell them that it’s in their best interest to work to keep their grades sustainable, since teams will notice how much work that they put in academically. The most important thing I tell them is that they can make their parents proud by solving their grades issue. This would get their parents off their back which is something you don’t want if you’re trying to focus energy into becoming a better athlete. Lastly, I tell them that they should try to enjoy their classes. You won’t have these opportunities forever, so it’s best that you appreciate it now and try your hardest since maybe you’ll even enjoy it.
Cody Cameron, a young cousin to me (Siege Cameron), has recently gotten negative attention from his parents after it's become apparent that his grades have been sacrificed for his football endeavors. Of course I want him to succeed in football and be able to follow my footsteps, but I'd have to calmly make him understand that this life isn't guaranteed, even if you make it. I'd tell Cody that he needs to put some of that headstrong personality into his grades and take the built up stress from school to use in football.
School will almost never be fun, but keeping up with your grades and translating academic skills to football (and vice versa) feels much more rewarding than just focusing on football and potentially failing classes, or even high school itself. I'd tell him that if he just puts his head down and focuses on school for the seven hours per day before practice, he'll develop a good habit of keeping his football life out of his other matters and it will be much healthier in the long term.
We were at a wedding when my cousin approached me. She told me that her son is really looking up to me and that he wants to make it into the ISFL just like I did. She also asked if i could talk to him because his grades were not the best.
Directly after that conversation I went back out to my car and got my football. I went back into the wedding and started looking for him. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw me, especially after he saw what I held in my hands. He didn't need a lot of convincing to go outside and throw the ball around a bit.
During our little throwing session I talked about his plans and his way to the ISFL. I made sure he understood that in order to go the US and play college Ball and later in the ISFL he needed good grades. Because it is really hard for a european to make it to the US. So he needs every little advantage he can get. I think he understood what I meant, even though he is still a bit young. I think he'll do better now
Written option: A young relative of yours is determined to follow in your footsteps and become a professional athlete, despite the odds being stacked against them. Unfortunately, the headstrong individual has let their grades slip and their parents have asked you to talk some sense into them. What do you say to this aspiring athlete?
I sit them day. Tell em, listen kid. If you want to be a superstar athelete like me you have to continue to work on being the best. That also includes being the best in your classes. Sports are all about your body AND about your mind. So you gotta train that mind just as much as you have to train your body. I believe in your ability to make it in the work of sports. I see the hunger and the drive you have, but you have to remember all the other important things next to working towards that goal. You cannot play if your grades are suffering from that drive. I know you have the power to turn those around and in a few years when you are ready to get drafted into the sports leagues I will be there. To support you in the hard times, in the good times and in the best of times.