TOWAMENCIN- He promised. And now I want to.

My mom called me up to her room one day. I can’t remember the exact day, but I know it was late July and summer was ending. I remember that my time as a camp counselor was nearing its end, and it was in the afternoon, because work was over.  I got to my mom’s room and asked her what was up. She handed me her phone and told me to read something. Looking back, I’m so glad she did. I read a story filled with hard work and so much love.

There is now a school, open and running, for 3rd and 4th graders at risk in Akron, Ohio thanks to the combined efforts of NBA icon LeBron James, his Foundation, and Akron Public Schools. These kids are receiving the help and support they need so they don’t fall any further behind than they already have, but that’s not where it stops. These kids are being pushed further, not only to catch up in the one to two academic years they are behind, but to surpass the averages and be hard workers. 240 kids attending the I Promise School get free meals, extended days and school years, support systems, and so much more. This all equates to opportunity. The opportunity to use resources that they would not have have at their disposal at any other school available to them in Akron is setting these kids up for major successes.

Reading this made me feel so proud of LeBron James. He took his experiences as a kid growing up in Akron, not having his needs met, and worked hard to be able to make sure no kid would feel that again. After reading about the way James worked so hard to offer these kids so much, I couldn’t just walk away with saying that I was proud. I’m more than just proud of his actions, I’m extremely inspired. Minutes before I read about the I Promise School, I would’ve accredited basketball as LeBron James’ biggest claim to fame. Knowing what I know now, I won’t ever think about James as basketball games I’ve never tuned into or his laser pink sneakers I’d run with on the jungle gym. If I ever hear his name, I think to how much he inspired me that day in July when my mom told me to come read some article off her phone.

I would’ve never said I wanted I to be like James before, because I’d leave that for the boys with NBA aspirations, but now I want to be just like him. I want to put in my time and energy into the people who need it.

I’ve always known that whatever I end up doing with my future, I want to be able to help others. James showed me how he’s achieved this for himself. He put in the time and effort outside of, and sometimes mixed in with, his career, and he helped those who need it. James told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that he and his Foundation are “. . . a huge support group for these kids, and we just want everything for them. Everything and more.’” His hard work has allowed him to help these kids so much, and that’s so inspiring to see someone doing so much good for others rather than themselves.

I want to do this and want to make the promise like he did to help and support those in need. I’m so proud he’s used his platform for so much good. Every year he’s providing more and more at risk kids with the skills they need. He doesn’t just have them go from class to class, he’s instilling respect, resilience, and drive in these kids.

While he is providing them with so much, one of the missions of the I Promise School is to teach the kids that “Nothing is given. Everything is earned”. James provides the opportunities, motivation, and love for these kids as well as motivation and inspiration to me.