When I first started this program, I wanted to serve youth by equipping myself to become a teacher, coach or a principal. That was my primary goal and objective. I wanted to be an educator who made an impact on youth. Educators provide the influence to shape individuals who will navigate the course of the universe. Educators are in the trenches as front line warriors battling to build better men and women.  The impressions educators leave on their students is everlasting. Educators are also examples of integrity, compassion and indisputably good character for youth.    

 

Not only did I want to be an educator to serve youth but I felt that it was part of my calling. I am man who believes in God and is trying to fulfill my purpose on earth. Currently, I’m a professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) but my profession has never been my highest calling. Instead, I have been placed, by God, in service positions, for the glorification and advancement of his kingdom. In fact, I made a promise to God as an undergraduate to use the NFL platform to advance his kingdom and to serve him with my whole heart.  I thought that becoming a teacher, coach or principal was my purpose.

 

The Masters program at MSU has challenged me and forced me to evaluate my goals. The program has reinforced my beliefs on education and encouraged me to reflect on how to become a great educator. Some of the ideas, techniques, and strategies I learned helped me understand the importance of learning environments inside and outside the classroom. Building a culture that allows for growth and development is paramount to educating youth successfully. This need for sound teaching and building a positive culture is especially true in poverty stricken neighborhoods where students live in single parent homes or in other environments that are not ideal for development.

 

After taking this program, my goals have changed. I will develop programs that enhance the opportunities of young people in impoverished communities. No longer is it enough for me to simply become a teacher, coach or principal.  Instead, I am going to establish a school that caters to underprivileged and underrepresented youth. This school will use traditional and alternative teaching methods to create the best culture for our students. Every aspect of the school, from curriculum to building layout, will be researched and developed to serve our students. Founding a school is an ambitious goal and the school is in the conception phase. I will need more resources, education and experience. But I am confident I will achieve this goal.

 

Finally, I have a clear understanding of how I want to serve God through helping impoverished youth. This Master’s Program has been so much more than a degree but it has given me a broader understanding of my purpose on earth and helped equip me for change that will one day shape the lives of future generations.