Appalachia football star heads to college l Hidden America: Children of the Mountains PART 6/6

ABC News

21 Jun 201805:05

Summary

TLDRShawn Grimm, a football star from Paintsville, Kentucky, overcomes adversity to become the first in his family to earn a high school diploma and secure a football scholarship at Pikeville College. However, his journey is marred by family turmoil, including an incest scandal involving his stepbrother. Despite the challenges, Shawn tries to break stereotypes and pursue higher education. Yet, financial struggles and personal issues lead him to drop out after just eight weeks. Returning home, he resorts to illegal coal scavenging, a stark contrast to his former status as a local football hero.

Takeaways

🎓 Shawn Grimm achieves a significant milestone by becoming the first in his family to earn a high school diploma.
🏈 Shawn's athletic prowess leads to a football scholarship at Pikeville College, offering him a chance to pursue higher education.
🤕 Shawn undergoes surgery on his damaged knee, which introduces him to prescription painkillers, hinting at potential future struggles.
🏡 A shocking family scandal unfolds when Shawn's stepbrother, Little Man, is accused of incest with Shawn's half-sister.
🚔 The incident involving Little Man leads to police involvement and social services stepping in, highlighting the family's complex dynamics.
😢 The script touches on the painful past of Shawn's mother, Tina, who was also a victim of molestation, adding depth to the family's struggles.
🏞️ The narrative challenges stereotypes about Appalachia, suggesting that the issues depicted are not isolated but part of a broader societal problem.
📚 Despite the scholarship, Shawn faces academic and financial hardships at college, which contribute to his feeling of being overwhelmed.
💔 Shawn's personal life takes a hit as his relationship with his girlfriend ends, adding to his list of setbacks.
🏫 Shawn's college journey ends prematurely as he drops out after only eight weeks, unable to cope with the challenges he faces.
❄️ Returning home, Shawn resorts to illegal coal scavenging on Route 23, symbolizing a fall from grace and the harsh reality of his situation.

Q & A

What significant achievement did Shawn Grimm accomplish?
-Shawn Grimm became the first person in his family to get a high school diploma.
Which college offered Shawn Grimm a football scholarship?
-Pikeville College, which is about an hour from his home, awarded Shawn Grimm a football scholarship.
What surgery did Shawn Grimm receive?
-Shawn Grimm received surgery on his damaged knee.
What was the shocking incident involving Shawn's stepbrother and half-sister?
-Shawn's stepbrother, Little Man, was found by his girlfriend having sex with Shawn's 15-year-old half-sister, which is a disturbing and illegal act due to their blood relation.
How did Shawn's mother, Tina, react to the incident involving Little Man?
-Tina called the police because she found the incident disgusting and illegal.
What was Shawn's stepdad Rick's stance on the situation with Little Man?
-Rick indicated readiness to confront Little Man if he came around, showing a protective stance towards the family.
What challenges did Shawn face when he started at Pikeville College?
-Shawn struggled with feeling overwhelmed in the classroom, had no money for supplies, food, or fun like other students, and his girlfriend broke up with him.
Why did Shawn drop out of college after only eight weeks?
-Shawn dropped out of college due to feeling overwhelmed, lacking financial resources, and being unable to keep up with his studies and football practice.
What did Shawn resort to doing after dropping out of college?
-After dropping out, Shawn engaged in illegal scavenging trips on the highway wall on Route 23 to find coal for the family.
What is the stereotype mentioned in the script about Eastern Kentucky?
-The script mentions a stereotype of incest associated with Eastern Kentucky, which is acknowledged as a problem not limited to that region but prevalent across the United States.
How does the script portray the broader Appalachian community?
-The script portrays the Appalachian community as facing challenges such as poverty, substance abuse, and social stigmas, but also highlights individuals like Shawn who strive to break the cycle and change stereotypes.

Outlines

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🏆 Shawn Grimm's Triumph and Challenges

Shawn Grimm, a football star from Paintsville, Kentucky, achieves a significant milestone by becoming the first in his family to earn a high school diploma. Despite facing adversities, he secures a football scholarship to Pikeville College. However, his journey is marred by family turmoil when his stepbrother, Little Man, is accused of incest with Shawn's half-sister. The incident deeply affects Shawn, who is determined to break the cycle of stereotypes associated with his region. Despite the challenges, including financial constraints and academic struggles, Shawn's story is one of resilience and the pursuit of a better life.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Spring

Spring is a season characterized by warmer weather and the rebirth of plant life after winter. In the context of the video, spring symbolizes a fresh start for Shawn Grimm as he achieves a significant milestone by becoming the first in his family to get a high school diploma, setting the stage for his journey towards college and a football scholarship.

💡Football Scholarship

A football scholarship is an award given to a student-athlete by a college or university to participate in its football program. It often covers tuition and sometimes includes living expenses. In the video, Shawn Grimm receives a football scholarship to Pikeville College, which represents a chance for him to escape his circumstances and pursue higher education.

💡Painkillers

Painkillers are medications used to alleviate pain. They can range from over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen to prescription opioids. In the script, Shawn Grimm is given prescription painkillers after knee surgery, which introduces a potential risk of addiction, a common issue in communities with limited resources and high stress.

💡Incest

Incest refers to sexual relations between close relatives, which is both taboo and illegal in many societies. The video script reveals a shocking incident of incest within Shawn's family, which is a central conflict that underscores the complex social issues and moral dilemmas faced by the characters.

💡Appalachia

Appalachia is a region in the eastern United States known for its mountainous terrain and a history of economic and social challenges. The video uses Appalachia as a backdrop to explore themes of poverty, family dysfunction, and the struggle for upward mobility, as exemplified by Shawn's journey and the broader community's challenges.

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes are widely held but oversimplified images or ideas about a particular type of person or thing. The video addresses the stereotype of Appalachian people as depicted in popular culture, challenging viewers to reconsider their preconceptions and understand the diversity and complexity within the region.

💡Overwhelmed

Feeling overwhelmed indicates being excessively burdened or stressed by a situation. Shawn experiences this at college, where he faces academic challenges and the pressure of living up to the expectations of his football scholarship, leading to his eventual decision to drop out.

💡Illegal Scavenging

Illegal scavenging refers to the act of collecting items, such as coal, from public spaces without permission. In the video, Shawn resorts to scavenging for coal on the side of the highway as a means of survival after dropping out of college, highlighting the desperation and lack of opportunities in his situation.

💡Trauma

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have long-lasting emotional effects. The script mentions past traumas experienced by Shawn's mother and half-sister, which contribute to the family's cycle of dysfunction and the challenges they face in breaking free from their circumstances.

💡Drugs

Drugs, in this context, refer to substances that can alter one's consciousness or mood, often illegally used or abused. The script implies the presence of drug use within the family, which is a common issue in communities grappling with poverty and lack of opportunities, further complicating the characters' lives.

💡Breaking the Cycle

Breaking the cycle refers to interrupting a series of repetitive, often negative, events or behaviors. The video emphasizes the importance of breaking cycles of abuse, poverty, and addiction, as Shawn and his family members strive to overcome their past and create a better future.

Highlights

Shawn Grimm becomes the first person in his family to get a high school diploma.

Shawn Grimm receives a football scholarship to Pikeville College.

Shawn undergoes surgery on his damaged knee and is prescribed painkillers.

Shawn's stepbrother 'Little Man' drops out of school and has two kids.

A scandal erupts involving Shawn's stepbrother and half-sister.

Shawn's mother Tina calls the police regarding the incident.

Tina reveals her own history of molestation by a family member.

Shawn's half-sister accuses 'Little Man' of giving her substances in exchange for sex.

The mother of 'Little Man's' children recants her story.

Shawn faces challenges at college, feeling overwhelmed and without advantages.

Shawn's girlfriend breaks up with him, highlighting his struggles.

Shawn drops out of college after eight weeks due to financial constraints.

Shawn returns home, feeling defeated and without a clear path forward.

Shawn resorts to illegal scavenging for coal on the side of the highway.

The stark contrast between Shawn's past as a football star and his current situation.

The community's struggle with stereotypes and the need to break the cycle of abuse.