What Can We Learn From College Athletes? | Kendall Spencer | TEDxBeaconStreet
Summary
TLDRThe speaker, a student-athlete, explores the dual identity of being both a student and an athlete, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities it presents. They discuss the struggle for identity and the societal expectation to remain silent on issues outside of sports. The narrative pivots to a personal experience of advocating for justice on social media, facing criticism for stepping out of their perceived role. The speaker argues for the importance of using one's voice, regardless of background, to contribute to society and challenge perspectives, emphasizing the value of both academic and athletic pursuits in shaping a well-rounded individual.
Takeaways
- 🏆 The speaker identifies as a student-athlete, highlighting the dual roles of being a student and an athlete.
- 🍽️ The humor in the script points to the speaker's personal experiences, like eating multiple plates at the dining hall.
- 🏫 The script emphasizes the importance of education and how it intertwines with athletic pursuits, challenging the notion that student-athletes are only athletes.
- ⏰ The challenges of balancing academics and athletics are depicted, such as waking up early for practice and attending classes afterward.
- 🌟 The speaker's identity crisis is discussed, where they grapple with societal expectations and their own identity as a student-athlete.
- 📰 The Trayvon Martin case is used as a pivotal moment that prompted the speaker to use their voice on social media, despite initial hesitations.
- 💬 The script addresses the criticism faced by the speaker for voicing their opinion, suggesting a double standard for student-athletes in expressing themselves.
- 👥 The speaker questions why society is resistant to student-athletes speaking out, drawing parallels to other forms of activism and expression.
- 🤔 The script ponders whether society views student-athletes as mere entertainment rather than well-rounded individuals with academic pursuits.
- 🗣️ A call to action is made for student-athletes and everyone to use their voice, as each person's story is valuable and deserves to be heard.
Q & A
What does the speaker identify as the dual role they play?
-The speaker identifies themselves as both a student and an athlete, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities that come with being a student-athlete.
How does the speaker describe the experience of balancing academics and athletics?
-The speaker describes the experience as challenging, involving not just physical exertion but also the challenge of identity and reconciling who they are with societal expectations.
What specific incident prompted the speaker to use their voice on social media?
-The speaker was prompted to use their voice on social media following the murder of Trayvon Martin, expressing their desire for justice and reflecting on the court's ruling.
Why did people tell the speaker to 'stick to running in circles' after their social media post on Trayvon Martin?
-People told the speaker to 'stick to running in circles' because they believed the speaker should focus on their athletic abilities rather than engage in social or political commentary.
What does the speaker suggest is the real problem with society's view on student-athletes using their voice?
-The speaker suggests that the real problem is that society doesn't truly view student-athletes as students, reducing them to their athletic performance and not acknowledging their academic pursuits or potential contributions beyond sports.
How does the speaker feel about the advice they received to stay within their perceived scope?
-The speaker feels that being told to stay within their perceived scope is limiting and goes against the essence of education and personal growth, which involves challenging perspectives and engaging with the world.
What is the significance of the speaker's mention of Plato's quote on justice in their philosophy class?
-The speaker mentions Plato's quote to emphasize the importance of a union between athletics and academics for achieving perfection, aligning with the idea of being a student-athlete and the holistic development of individuals.
What does the speaker believe is the consequence of not using one's voice?
-The speaker believes that not using one's voice leads to missed opportunities for learning, understanding different perspectives, and hearing stories that inspire and provide courage.
How does the speaker encourage others to use their voice?
-The speaker encourages others to use their voice by emphasizing the uniqueness of each person's story and the world's readiness to hear these stories, urging them to be strategic and critical in their approach.
What is the speaker's current status and how does it relate to their message about using one's voice?
-The speaker is an Olympic hopeful and a law student at Georgetown University, embodying the message that the time to use one's voice is now, as they have used their own voice to advocate for justice and are pursuing higher education.
Outlines
🏆 Balancing Student and Athlete Identities
The speaker begins by humorously highlighting the stereotypes associated with student-athletes, such as the voracious eater in the dining hall, which the speaker identifies with. They discuss the unique opportunity student-athletes have to merge their athletic and academic passions, emphasizing the challenge of balancing these two identities. The speaker shares personal anecdotes, like waking up early for practice and the struggle to reconcile their identity as an athlete with societal expectations. They recount a pivotal moment when, as a sophomore, the murder of Trayvon Martin prompted them to use their voice on social media, despite criticism that they should 'stick to sports.' This experience led them to reflect on the broader issue of identity and the societal pressure to conform to one-dimensional roles.
🗣️ The Power and Limitations of Student-Athlete Voices
In the second paragraph, the speaker delves into the societal perception of student-athletes as primarily entertainers rather than scholars. They recount an experience at an airport where they were recognized as an athlete but not as a student, which led to a realization about the undervaluation of their academic pursuits. The speaker argues that society often silences student-athletes, suggesting that their voices are only valid within the context of their sport. They challenge this notion by pointing out the academic achievements and future contributions of student-athletes, emphasizing the importance of allowing them to use their voices in all aspects of life. The speaker also touches on the broader implications of silencing any group, highlighting the loss of diverse perspectives and the importance of encouraging everyone to share their stories.
🌟 Encouraging Voices for a More Inclusive Society
The final paragraph is a call to action, urging everyone, especially student-athletes, to use their voices and share their unique stories. The speaker shares their personal journey as an Olympic hopeful and law student, emphasizing that the time to speak out is now. They argue that every individual's voice is essential for a more inclusive and understanding society. The speaker concludes by stressing the importance of education and physical activity in achieving personal perfection and societal progress, and they encourage the audience to support one another in expressing their perspectives, as the world is eager to hear from them.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Student-athlete
💡Identity
💡Challenge
💡Voice
💡Justice
💡Perspective
💡Education
💡Athletics
💡Societal Expectations
💡Oppression
💡Courage
Highlights
The speaker humorously introduces the stereotype of student-athletes, setting the stage for a deeper discussion.
The opportunity for student-athletes to merge passion from sports with academic pursuits is highlighted.
The dual identity challenge of being both a student and an athlete is explored, emphasizing the struggle to reconcile these roles.
The speaker recounts a personal anecdote about the challenge of balancing early morning practices with academic responsibilities.
The Trayvon Martin case is mentioned as a catalyst for the speaker's activism, showing the intersection of personal identity and social justice.
The speaker reflects on the public's reaction to their initial tweets on Trayvon Martin, indicating a pushback against student-athletes engaging in social issues.
The idea that student-athletes are reduced to their athletic abilities, rather than being recognized for their academic and personal identities, is critiqued.
The speaker questions why society is resistant to student-athletes using their voices, drawing parallels to other forms of protest and activism.
An airport encounter is described, illustrating the common perception of athletes as only being defined by their sports, not their academic or personal lives.
The speaker points out the irony that while society consumes athletic entertainment, it often disregards the academic and personal achievements of student-athletes.
Statistics on the low percentage of student-athletes who go pro are used to argue for the importance of recognizing their academic and future contributions to society.
The speaker argues against the silencing of student-athletes, advocating for the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of voice in education.
A philosophical quote from Plato is referenced to emphasize the unity of mind and body, and the holistic development of student-athletes.
The importance of strategic and critical thinking in speaking out on issues is discussed, along with the need for peer support.
The speaker concludes with a call to action, urging everyone to use their unique voice and share their stories, as the world is waiting to hear them.
Transcripts
when I say the word student-athlete what
comes to mind
maybe it's the college football game you
defaulted to so you could avoid another
Geico commercial maybe it's the freshman
that swam away to an Olympic gold medal
in between classes or maybe it's that
kid at the dining hall with like five
plates who's going back for seconds and
thirds I actually got a laugh at that
one because anyone who actually knows me
knows that that that last kid is is
definitely me
you see as both student and athlete I
get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to take the passion I've cultivated on
the field into the classroom into a
place where professors teach us to
challenge ourselves a place where we
learn to challenge each other a place
where we explore new ways of challenging
the world around us but the very
challenge of living between the whistle
and the school bell comes with so much
more than shuffling into class after
practice or finding new ways to smuggle
food into philosophy lectures or
actually in my case waking up a 5:00
a.m. to practice and just hoping you
don't get a cold call during contract
law but it does come with this challenge
of identity at times of reconciling who
you are and how your voice is going to
be used with who the world expects you
to be and the boxes that we often find
ourselves put in and maybe you agree
with me mate maybe this is something
that we all experience in terms of
challenge but it's important to note
that these challenges don't show any
prejudice towards age or whether you're
a freshman or in graduate school you see
I was only a sophomore when George
Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin and
looking at the article briefly my
notions of justice and fair play
didn't all agree with what the court had
ruled or even how something like this
could happen but I mean what was I gonna
do I was I was just a student and at
that time to be honest going to law
school was out of the question it was
expensive and we all know lawyers talk
entirely too much but in looking at this
child's face I check this uncanny
resemblance he had to these everyday
people in my
if you see Trayvon was my little brother
Trayvon was my teammate that measured
out my distances in Long Jump Trayvon
was even the kid in my English lecture
that waved me down when there was
nowhere else to sit so naturally I I
took to Twitter just just supposed to
comment wishing that his life his family
his legacy like all of us receives
justice and to be honest this is no
different than the way I feel about the
law now because regardless of what you
look like what you believe where you're
from we all deserve justice and I
believe that don't you but what people
said about what I had tweeted is
actually why I'm here today
you see people told me I should stick to
running in circles people told me that I
should let regular individuals handle
this
people even told me I should stick to
playing in the sand and at that very
moment as a student-athlete
I had no voice my voice went only about
as far as I could jump or as far as my
athletic ability how devastating but
suddenly this was about so much more
than being a student-athlete this is
about being a human being a human being
was out of voice and I'm wondering if
this sounds like any of you I mean
seriously how how different is this from
raising your hand in class or writing an
op-ed or kneeling at a football game is
it any different than standing alongside
those in support of the women's March or
standing behind our military during
times of controversy why on earth are we
so hard on people that step outside of
this box and challenge perspectives why
for example aren't we encouraging more
student athletes to use their voice and
how did we get here how did we get to
this point in society where we're
reducing people to these one-dimensional
characteristics that don't even begin to
do justice to their their potential in
their voice now I got to be honest I I
might never find the answer to any of
these questions but a month after this
happened I certainly thought I did you
see I found myself among scores of other
travelers enjoying the
hospitality of airport security and I
didn't think I look too abnormal I mean
I mean had a cinnamon colored suit on
with a charcoal grey tie it actually
seemed to fit and and to be honest with
you none of that mattered because for
the first time in like three months
I had managed to get all of the sand out
of my socks which is a huge
accomplishment for people in my event
but even with all that being said
someone still managed to come up to me
and ask me what's he my plate for and
and and how this person knew I was an
athlete still escaped from you to this
day but I tell him I'm a proud Lobo he
asked me what sport I play well my event
is how far I jump he wishes me well and
we go our separate ways but when I got
to my plane I'm overhearing another
conversation between a passenger and a
student that sounds strikingly identical
to mine except for the questions they're
being asked questions like what's your
major why'd you choose the school you
chose and what are you gonna do after
you graduate and as I'm looking out of
the window I couldn't help but wonder
why no one ever asked me these questions
and honestly it brought me back to the
tweet I had sent about Trayvon Martin a
month prior and and a couple the dot
started to connect for me you see maybe
the issue that society has with student
athletes using their voice or even just
athletes using their voice has nothing
to do with our majors or where we go to
school because maybe the real problem is
that society doesn't believe that
student athletes are really students at
all and this is this is this is this is
something that's so amazing to me
because I mean maybe they don't want it
maybe because to them were just
entertainment I mean we're the people
that you turn to when Monday night
football is over or when the World
Series is ends or if you didn't get
tickets to the World Cup I mean of
course fans will come out to the games
they'll listen to the radio interviews
they'll even stream the top ten plays of
the season but how many college sports
fans that you know can honestly tell you
anything about the academic pursuits of
any of their favorite student athletes
it's a striking finding really because
even looking statistically at at a at a
spectator sport like football over
74,000 student-athletes only 250 of them
roughly are gonna get drafted to the NFL
this means that over 73,000 of these
kids are gonna go pro in something other
than their sport they're gonna
contribute to society in ways that go
far beyond what they were ever gonna do
athletically and yet these same
individuals are told that their voice
only goes as far as they could throw a
football at the very minute we step
outside of this box that we've been put
in we're told we have to be quiet and as
I look at all of you I can't help but
wonder how many of you guys have ever
been there how many of you guys have
ever been told to keep your opinions and
your perspectives to yourselves because
it supposedly went outside your scope a
scope that may have been because of
where you were from what you look like
or what you believed you see the very
minute we believe this lie that our
perspectives and our story is irrelevant
we stop using our voice altogether but
I'm wondering if you stopped using your
voice whose story wouldn't get told you
see any time we muzzle groups and and
other people we don't just miss out on
these critical opportunities to learn we
missed out on perspectives we miss out
on these stories that inspire and fill
us with courage and it's in this way
that your voice is really one of the
highlights of life in part because
wherever you go your story goes with you
and the world is just waiting to hear
this story the world is waiting to hear
from you for anyone that's that's gone
to school engaging with the world around
us and challenging perspectives is the
very essence of our educational system
but how can we sit here and say that we
endorsed this model of growth and
scholarship through learning if we're
discouraging people from using their
voice how can we actually say that and
and and for student athletes this is
something that's incredibly important to
us because this is one of the very many
ways that we learn in fact to this day
one of my favorite quotes out of my
philosophy class came came from Plato is
he's talking about justice and he
actually goes on to say that in order
for man to succeed in life God gave God
gave us these two things
not to be used separately as one for the
soul and one for the body but to be used
together and that is through these means
of education and physical activity that
man can actually achieve perfection now
no one's perfect but but this this idea
of creating a union between athletics
and academics is the very nature of
being a student athlete or even just
staying physically active while you're
in school and it's because of this that
there's not a single person in the world
that can tell me that academics and
athletics don't go together but even
with all that being said this doesn't
make speaking out any easier we still
need to be strategic and think
critically about the issues that were
actually addressing we need to
understand there's these risks and be
willing to commit to our cause beyond
circumstance and in order to do this we
need the support of our peers and we
need the support because the world is
waiting to hear from you you see this
land is is supposed to be your land this
land is supposed to be my land too but
if this land is truly meant for you and
me then why don't we encourage each
other to draw this voice within all of
us because the world is waiting to hear
from you everyone has this unique story
this this voice that is so specific to
our own experiences and for every one
person that has the courage to use their
voice wisely they enabled dozens more to
do the same when I was first starting
out and figuring out how I was gonna use
my voice and and really where I fit in
the world all I wanted was for one day
my community and my country to hear from
me and I stand before you today as an
Olympic hopeful and a law student at
Georgetown University and realizing that
the time to use your voice is right now
the time for you to use your voice is
right now the world hopefully one day
hear from me but your time is now
because the world is waiting to hear
from you thank you
you
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