when I say the word student-athlete what comes to mind
comes to mind
comes to mind maybe it’s the college football game you
maybe it’s the college football game you
maybe it’s the college football game you defaulted to so you could avoid another
defaulted to so you could avoid another
defaulted to so you could avoid another Geico commercial maybe it’s the freshman
Geico commercial maybe it’s the freshman
Geico commercial maybe it’s the freshman that swam away to an Olympic gold medal
that swam away to an Olympic gold medal
that swam away to an Olympic gold medal in between classes or maybe it’s that
in between classes or maybe it’s that
in between classes or maybe it’s that kid at the dining hall with like five
kid at the dining hall with like five
kid at the dining hall with like five plates who’s going back for seconds and
plates who’s going back for seconds and
plates who’s going back for seconds and thirds I actually got a laugh at that
thirds I actually got a laugh at that
thirds I actually got a laugh at that one because anyone who actually knows me
one because anyone who actually knows me
one because anyone who actually knows me knows that that that last kid is is
knows that that that last kid is is
knows that that that last kid is is definitely me
definitely me
definitely me you see as both student and athlete I
you see as both student and athlete I
you see as both student and athlete I get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take the passion I’ve cultivated on
to take the passion I’ve cultivated on
to take the passion I’ve cultivated on the field into the classroom into a
the field into the classroom into a
the field into the classroom into a place where professors teach us to
place where professors teach us to
place where professors teach us to challenge ourselves a place where we
challenge ourselves a place where we
challenge ourselves a place where we learn to challenge each other a place
learn to challenge each other a place
learn to challenge each other a place where we explore new ways of challenging
where we explore new ways of challenging
where we explore new ways of challenging the world around us but the very
the world around us but the very
the world around us but the very challenge of living between the whistle
challenge of living between the whistle
challenge of living between the whistle and the school bell comes with so much
and the school bell comes with so much
and the school bell comes with so much more than shuffling into class after
more than shuffling into class after
more than shuffling into class after practice or finding new ways to smuggle
practice or finding new ways to smuggle
practice or finding new ways to smuggle food into philosophy lectures or
food into philosophy lectures or
food into philosophy lectures or actually in my case waking up a 5:00
actually in my case waking up a 5:00
actually in my case waking up a 5:00 a.m. to practice and just hoping you
a.m. to practice and just hoping you
a.m. to practice and just hoping you don’t get a cold call during contract
don’t get a cold call during contract
don’t get a cold call during contract law but it does come with this challenge
law but it does come with this challenge
law but it does come with this challenge of identity at times of reconciling who
of identity at times of reconciling who
of identity at times of reconciling who you are and how your voice is going to
you are and how your voice is going to
you are and how your voice is going to be used with who the world expects you
be used with who the world expects you
be used with who the world expects you to be and the boxes that we often find
to be and the boxes that we often find
to be and the boxes that we often find ourselves put in and maybe you agree
ourselves put in and maybe you agree
ourselves put in and maybe you agree with me mate maybe this is something
with me mate maybe this is something
with me mate maybe this is something that we all experience in terms of
that we all experience in terms of
that we all experience in terms of challenge but it’s important to note
challenge but it’s important to note
challenge but it’s important to note that these challenges don’t show any
that these challenges don’t show any
that these challenges don’t show any prejudice towards age or whether you’re
prejudice towards age or whether you’re
prejudice towards age or whether you’re a freshman or in graduate school you see
a freshman or in graduate school you see
a freshman or in graduate school you see I was only a sophomore when George
I was only a sophomore when George
I was only a sophomore when George Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin and
Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin and
Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin and looking at the article briefly my
looking at the article briefly my
looking at the article briefly my notions of justice and fair play
notions of justice and fair play
notions of justice and fair play didn’t all agree with what the court had
didn’t all agree with what the court had
didn’t all agree with what the court had ruled or even how something like this
ruled or even how something like this
ruled or even how something like this could happen but I mean what was I gonna
could happen but I mean what was I gonna
could happen but I mean what was I gonna do I was I was just a student and at
do I was I was just a student and at
do I was I was just a student and at that time to be honest going to law
that time to be honest going to law
that time to be honest going to law school was out of the question it was
school was out of the question it was
school was out of the question it was expensive and we all know lawyers talk
expensive and we all know lawyers talk
expensive and we all know lawyers talk entirely too much but in looking at this
entirely too much but in looking at this
entirely too much but in looking at this child’s face I check this uncanny
child’s face I check this uncanny
child’s face I check this uncanny resemblance he had to these everyday
resemblance he had to these everyday
resemblance he had to these everyday people in my
people in my
people in my if you see Trayvon was my little brother
if you see Trayvon was my little brother
if you see Trayvon was my little brother Trayvon was my teammate that measured
Trayvon was my teammate that measured
Trayvon was my teammate that measured out my distances in Long Jump Trayvon
out my distances in Long Jump Trayvon
out my distances in Long Jump Trayvon was even the kid in my English lecture
was even the kid in my English lecture
was even the kid in my English lecture that waved me down when there was
that waved me down when there was
that waved me down when there was nowhere else to sit so naturally I I
nowhere else to sit so naturally I I
nowhere else to sit so naturally I I took to Twitter just just supposed to
took to Twitter just just supposed to
took to Twitter just just supposed to comment wishing that his life his family
comment wishing that his life his family
comment wishing that his life his family his legacy like all of us receives
his legacy like all of us receives
his legacy like all of us receives justice and to be honest this is no
justice and to be honest this is no
justice and to be honest this is no different than the way I feel about the
different than the way I feel about the
different than the way I feel about the law now because regardless of what you
law now because regardless of what you
law now because regardless of what you look like what you believe where you’re
look like what you believe where you’re
look like what you believe where you’re from we all deserve justice and I
from we all deserve justice and I
from we all deserve justice and I believe that don’t you but what people
believe that don’t you but what people
believe that don’t you but what people said about what I had tweeted is
said about what I had tweeted is
said about what I had tweeted is actually why I’m here today
actually why I’m here today
actually why I’m here today you see people told me I should stick to
you see people told me I should stick to
you see people told me I should stick to running in circles people told me that I
running in circles people told me that I
running in circles people told me that I should let regular individuals handle
should let regular individuals handle
should let regular individuals handle this
this
this people even told me I should stick to
people even told me I should stick to
people even told me I should stick to playing in the sand and at that very
playing in the sand and at that very
playing in the sand and at that very moment as a student-athlete
moment as a student-athlete
moment as a student-athlete I had no voice my voice went only about
I had no voice my voice went only about
I had no voice my voice went only about as far as I could jump or as far as my
as far as I could jump or as far as my
as far as I could jump or as far as my athletic ability how devastating but
athletic ability how devastating but
athletic ability how devastating but suddenly this was about so much more
suddenly this was about so much more
suddenly this was about so much more than being a student-athlete this is
than being a student-athlete this is
than being a student-athlete this is about being a human being a human being
about being a human being a human being
about being a human being a human being was out of voice and I’m wondering if
was out of voice and I’m wondering if
was out of voice and I’m wondering if this sounds like any of you I mean
this sounds like any of you I mean
this sounds like any of you I mean seriously how how different is this from
seriously how how different is this from
seriously how how different is this from raising your hand in class or writing an
raising your hand in class or writing an
raising your hand in class or writing an op-ed or kneeling at a football game is
op-ed or kneeling at a football game is
op-ed or kneeling at a football game is it any different than standing alongside
it any different than standing alongside
it any different than standing alongside those in support of the women’s March or
those in support of the women’s March or
those in support of the women’s March or standing behind our military during
standing behind our military during
standing behind our military during times of controversy why on earth are we
times of controversy why on earth are we
times of controversy why on earth are we so hard on people that step outside of
so hard on people that step outside of
so hard on people that step outside of this box and challenge perspectives why
this box and challenge perspectives why
this box and challenge perspectives why for example aren’t we encouraging more
for example aren’t we encouraging more
for example aren’t we encouraging more student athletes to use their voice and
student athletes to use their voice and
student athletes to use their voice and how did we get here how did we get to
how did we get here how did we get to
how did we get here how did we get to this point in society where we’re
this point in society where we’re
this point in society where we’re reducing people to these one-dimensional
reducing people to these one-dimensional
reducing people to these one-dimensional characteristics that don’t even begin to
characteristics that don’t even begin to
characteristics that don’t even begin to do justice to their their potential in
do justice to their their potential in
do justice to their their potential in their voice now I got to be honest I I
their voice now I got to be honest I I
their voice now I got to be honest I I might never find the answer to any of
might never find the answer to any of
might never find the answer to any of these questions but a month after this
these questions but a month after this
these questions but a month after this happened I certainly thought I did you
happened I certainly thought I did you
happened I certainly thought I did you see I found myself among scores of other
see I found myself among scores of other
see I found myself among scores of other travelers enjoying the
travelers enjoying the
travelers enjoying the hospitality of airport security and I
hospitality of airport security and I
hospitality of airport security and I didn’t think I look too abnormal I mean
didn’t think I look too abnormal I mean
didn’t think I look too abnormal I mean I mean had a cinnamon colored suit on
I mean had a cinnamon colored suit on
I mean had a cinnamon colored suit on with a charcoal grey tie it actually
with a charcoal grey tie it actually
with a charcoal grey tie it actually seemed to fit and and to be honest with
seemed to fit and and to be honest with
seemed to fit and and to be honest with you none of that mattered because for
you none of that mattered because for
you none of that mattered because for the first time in like three months
the first time in like three months
the first time in like three months I had managed to get all of the sand out
I had managed to get all of the sand out
I had managed to get all of the sand out of my socks which is a huge
of my socks which is a huge
of my socks which is a huge accomplishment for people in my event
accomplishment for people in my event
accomplishment for people in my event but even with all that being said
but even with all that being said
but even with all that being said someone still managed to come up to me
someone still managed to come up to me
someone still managed to come up to me and ask me what’s he my plate for and
and ask me what’s he my plate for and
and ask me what’s he my plate for and and and how this person knew I was an
and and how this person knew I was an
and and how this person knew I was an athlete still escaped from you to this
athlete still escaped from you to this
athlete still escaped from you to this day but I tell him I’m a proud Lobo he
day but I tell him I’m a proud Lobo he
day but I tell him I’m a proud Lobo he asked me what sport I play well my event
asked me what sport I play well my event
asked me what sport I play well my event is how far I jump he wishes me well and
is how far I jump he wishes me well and
is how far I jump he wishes me well and we go our separate ways but when I got
we go our separate ways but when I got
we go our separate ways but when I got to my plane I’m overhearing another
to my plane I’m overhearing another
to my plane I’m overhearing another conversation between a passenger and a
conversation between a passenger and a
conversation between a passenger and a student that sounds strikingly identical
student that sounds strikingly identical
student that sounds strikingly identical to mine except for the questions they’re
to mine except for the questions they’re
to mine except for the questions they’re being asked questions like what’s your
being asked questions like what’s your
being asked questions like what’s your major why’d you choose the school you
major why’d you choose the school you
major why’d you choose the school you chose and what are you gonna do after
chose and what are you gonna do after
chose and what are you gonna do after you graduate and as I’m looking out of
you graduate and as I’m looking out of
you graduate and as I’m looking out of the window I couldn’t help but wonder
the window I couldn’t help but wonder
the window I couldn’t help but wonder why no one ever asked me these questions
why no one ever asked me these questions
why no one ever asked me these questions and honestly it brought me back to the
and honestly it brought me back to the
and honestly it brought me back to the tweet I had sent about Trayvon Martin a
tweet I had sent about Trayvon Martin a
tweet I had sent about Trayvon Martin a month prior and and a couple the dot
month prior and and a couple the dot
month prior and and a couple the dot started to connect for me you see maybe
started to connect for me you see maybe
started to connect for me you see maybe the issue that society has with student
the issue that society has with student
the issue that society has with student athletes using their voice or even just
athletes using their voice or even just
athletes using their voice or even just athletes using their voice has nothing
athletes using their voice has nothing
athletes using their voice has nothing to do with our majors or where we go to
to do with our majors or where we go to
to do with our majors or where we go to school because maybe the real problem is
school because maybe the real problem is
school because maybe the real problem is that society doesn’t believe that
that society doesn’t believe that
that society doesn’t believe that student athletes are really students at
student athletes are really students at
student athletes are really students at all and this is this is this is this is
all and this is this is this is this is
all and this is this is this is this is something that’s so amazing to me
something that’s so amazing to me
something that’s so amazing to me because I mean maybe they don’t want it
because I mean maybe they don’t want it
because I mean maybe they don’t want it maybe because to them were just
maybe because to them were just
maybe because to them were just entertainment I mean we’re the people
entertainment I mean we’re the people
entertainment I mean we’re the people that you turn to when Monday night
that you turn to when Monday night
that you turn to when Monday night football is over or when the World
football is over or when the World
football is over or when the World Series is ends or if you didn’t get
Series is ends or if you didn’t get
Series is ends or if you didn’t get tickets to the World Cup I mean of
tickets to the World Cup I mean of
tickets to the World Cup I mean of course fans will come out to the games
course fans will come out to the games
course fans will come out to the games they’ll listen to the radio interviews
they’ll listen to the radio interviews
they’ll listen to the radio interviews they’ll even stream the top ten plays of
they’ll even stream the top ten plays of
they’ll even stream the top ten plays of the season but how many college sports
the season but how many college sports
the season but how many college sports fans that you know can honestly tell you
fans that you know can honestly tell you
fans that you know can honestly tell you anything about the academic pursuits of
anything about the academic pursuits of
anything about the academic pursuits of any of their favorite student athletes
any of their favorite student athletes
any of their favorite student athletes it’s a striking finding really because
it’s a striking finding really because
it’s a striking finding really because even looking statistically at at a at a
even looking statistically at at a at a
even looking statistically at at a at a spectator sport like football over
spectator sport like football over
spectator sport like football over 74,000 student-athletes only 250 of them
74,000 student-athletes only 250 of them
74,000 student-athletes only 250 of them roughly are gonna get drafted to the NFL
roughly are gonna get drafted to the NFL
roughly are gonna get drafted to the NFL this means that over 73,000 of these
this means that over 73,000 of these
this means that over 73,000 of these kids are gonna go pro in something other
kids are gonna go pro in something other
kids are gonna go pro in something other than their sport they’re gonna
than their sport they’re gonna
than their sport they’re gonna contribute to society in ways that go
contribute to society in ways that go
contribute to society in ways that go far beyond what they were ever gonna do
far beyond what they were ever gonna do
far beyond what they were ever gonna do athletically and yet these same
athletically and yet these same
athletically and yet these same individuals are told that their voice
individuals are told that their voice
individuals are told that their voice only goes as far as they could throw a
only goes as far as they could throw a
only goes as far as they could throw a football at the very minute we step
football at the very minute we step
football at the very minute we step outside of this box that we’ve been put
outside of this box that we’ve been put
outside of this box that we’ve been put in we’re told we have to be quiet and as
in we’re told we have to be quiet and as
in we’re told we have to be quiet and as I look at all of you I can’t help but
I look at all of you I can’t help but
I look at all of you I can’t help but wonder how many of you guys have ever
wonder how many of you guys have ever
wonder how many of you guys have ever been there how many of you guys have
been there how many of you guys have
been there how many of you guys have ever been told to keep your opinions and
ever been told to keep your opinions and
ever been told to keep your opinions and your perspectives to yourselves because
your perspectives to yourselves because
your perspectives to yourselves because it supposedly went outside your scope a
it supposedly went outside your scope a
it supposedly went outside your scope a scope that may have been because of
scope that may have been because of
scope that may have been because of where you were from what you look like
where you were from what you look like
where you were from what you look like or what you believed you see the very
or what you believed you see the very
or what you believed you see the very minute we believe this lie that our
minute we believe this lie that our
minute we believe this lie that our perspectives and our story is irrelevant
perspectives and our story is irrelevant
perspectives and our story is irrelevant we stop using our voice altogether but
we stop using our voice altogether but
we stop using our voice altogether but I’m wondering if you stopped using your
I’m wondering if you stopped using your
I’m wondering if you stopped using your voice whose story wouldn’t get told you
voice whose story wouldn’t get told you
voice whose story wouldn’t get told you see any time we muzzle groups and and
see any time we muzzle groups and and
see any time we muzzle groups and and other people we don’t just miss out on
other people we don’t just miss out on
other people we don’t just miss out on these critical opportunities to learn we
these critical opportunities to learn we
these critical opportunities to learn we missed out on perspectives we miss out
missed out on perspectives we miss out
missed out on perspectives we miss out on these stories that inspire and fill
on these stories that inspire and fill
on these stories that inspire and fill us with courage and it’s in this way
us with courage and it’s in this way
us with courage and it’s in this way that your voice is really one of the
that your voice is really one of the
that your voice is really one of the highlights of life in part because
highlights of life in part because
highlights of life in part because wherever you go your story goes with you
wherever you go your story goes with you
wherever you go your story goes with you and the world is just waiting to hear
and the world is just waiting to hear
and the world is just waiting to hear this story the world is waiting to hear
this story the world is waiting to hear
this story the world is waiting to hear from you for anyone that’s that’s gone
from you for anyone that’s that’s gone
from you for anyone that’s that’s gone to school engaging with the world around
to school engaging with the world around
to school engaging with the world around us and challenging perspectives is the
us and challenging perspectives is the
us and challenging perspectives is the very essence of our educational system
very essence of our educational system
very essence of our educational system but how can we sit here and say that we
but how can we sit here and say that we
but how can we sit here and say that we endorsed this model of growth and
endorsed this model of growth and
endorsed this model of growth and scholarship through learning if we’re
scholarship through learning if we’re
scholarship through learning if we’re discouraging people from using their
discouraging people from using their
discouraging people from using their voice how can we actually say that and
voice how can we actually say that and
voice how can we actually say that and and and for student athletes this is
and and for student athletes this is
and and for student athletes this is something that’s incredibly important to
something that’s incredibly important to
something that’s incredibly important to us because this is one of the very many
us because this is one of the very many
us because this is one of the very many ways that we learn in fact to this day
ways that we learn in fact to this day
ways that we learn in fact to this day one of my favorite quotes out of my
one of my favorite quotes out of my
one of my favorite quotes out of my philosophy class came came from Plato is
philosophy class came came from Plato is
philosophy class came came from Plato is he’s talking about justice and he
he’s talking about justice and he
he’s talking about justice and he actually goes on to say that in order
actually goes on to say that in order
actually goes on to say that in order for man to succeed in life God gave God
for man to succeed in life God gave God
for man to succeed in life God gave God gave us these two things
gave us these two things
gave us these two things not to be used separately as one for the
not to be used separately as one for the
not to be used separately as one for the soul and one for the body but to be used
soul and one for the body but to be used
soul and one for the body but to be used together and that is through these means
together and that is through these means
together and that is through these means of education and physical activity that
of education and physical activity that
of education and physical activity that man can actually achieve perfection now
man can actually achieve perfection now
man can actually achieve perfection now no one’s perfect but but this this idea
no one’s perfect but but this this idea
no one’s perfect but but this this idea of creating a union between athletics
of creating a union between athletics
of creating a union between athletics and academics is the very nature of
and academics is the very nature of
and academics is the very nature of being a student athlete or even just
being a student athlete or even just
being a student athlete or even just staying physically active while you’re
staying physically active while you’re
staying physically active while you’re in school and it’s because of this that
in school and it’s because of this that
in school and it’s because of this that there’s not a single person in the world
there’s not a single person in the world
there’s not a single person in the world that can tell me that academics and
that can tell me that academics and
that can tell me that academics and athletics don’t go together but even
athletics don’t go together but even
athletics don’t go together but even with all that being said this doesn’t
with all that being said this doesn’t
with all that being said this doesn’t make speaking out any easier we still
make speaking out any easier we still
make speaking out any easier we still need to be strategic and think
need to be strategic and think
need to be strategic and think critically about the issues that were
critically about the issues that were
critically about the issues that were actually addressing we need to
actually addressing we need to
actually addressing we need to understand there’s these risks and be
understand there’s these risks and be
understand there’s these risks and be willing to commit to our cause beyond
willing to commit to our cause beyond
willing to commit to our cause beyond circumstance and in order to do this we
circumstance and in order to do this we
circumstance and in order to do this we need the support of our peers and we
need the support of our peers and we
need the support of our peers and we need the support because the world is
need the support because the world is
need the support because the world is waiting to hear from you you see this
waiting to hear from you you see this
waiting to hear from you you see this land is is supposed to be your land this
land is is supposed to be your land this
land is is supposed to be your land this land is supposed to be my land too but
land is supposed to be my land too but
land is supposed to be my land too but if this land is truly meant for you and
if this land is truly meant for you and
if this land is truly meant for you and me then why don’t we encourage each
me then why don’t we encourage each
me then why don’t we encourage each other to draw this voice within all of
other to draw this voice within all of
other to draw this voice within all of us because the world is waiting to hear
us because the world is waiting to hear
us because the world is waiting to hear from you everyone has this unique story
from you everyone has this unique story
from you everyone has this unique story this this voice that is so specific to
this this voice that is so specific to
this this voice that is so specific to our own experiences and for every one
our own experiences and for every one
our own experiences and for every one person that has the courage to use their
person that has the courage to use their
person that has the courage to use their voice wisely they enabled dozens more to
voice wisely they enabled dozens more to
voice wisely they enabled dozens more to do the same when I was first starting
do the same when I was first starting
do the same when I was first starting out and figuring out how I was gonna use
out and figuring out how I was gonna use
out and figuring out how I was gonna use my voice and and really where I fit in
my voice and and really where I fit in
my voice and and really where I fit in the world all I wanted was for one day
the world all I wanted was for one day
the world all I wanted was for one day my community and my country to hear from
my community and my country to hear from
my community and my country to hear from me and I stand before you today as an
me and I stand before you today as an
me and I stand before you today as an Olympic hopeful and a law student at
Olympic hopeful and a law student at
Olympic hopeful and a law student at Georgetown University and realizing that
Georgetown University and realizing that
Georgetown University and realizing that the time to use your voice is right now
the time to use your voice is right now
the time to use your voice is right now the time for you to use your voice is
the time for you to use your voice is
the time for you to use your voice is right now the world hopefully one day
right now the world hopefully one day
right now the world hopefully one day hear from me but your time is now
hear from me but your time is now
hear from me but your time is now because the world is waiting to hear
because the world is waiting to hear
because the world is waiting to hear from you thank you
from you thank you
from you thank you you
”
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