maysblog

The Aggies went out to Lubbock this past weekend as an underdog to the high-octane Tech offense.  We were able to put on an offensive show of our own winning 52-30.  I am hoping we can continue winning as we host Iowa State this weekend.  I’ve been very inconsistent writing this fall.  It seems like just as I finish one group project, another is assigned.  Since I last wrote, we had a pretty big deal happen on campus.

President Obama was invited to speak by President George H. W. Bush.  I was able to watch it on tv, and must say that man can speak.  He talked for over twenty minutes, and never looked down or even paused.  I may be missing something, but I don’t think he had a teleprompter to aid him during this speech.  I feel that a major gift from God is the ability to speak in front of others, because for many that is their biggest fear.  The things discussed during this forum helped put things in perspective.  We all seem to get caught up in who is on what side of the political spectrum, and forget that there are far more things we can do to lend a helping hand.  They targeted public service, something that I have become more and more passionate about since coming to A&M.  Maybe this place just does this to you, because it has made me aspire to be a better person and have a desire to serve others.  Whether a person is conservative with their views or liberal, they can still take time from their day to help others.  I’m not here to preach, just hopefully encourage you to help someone even if it is as minute as helping an elderly lady out at the grocery store.  No one else may see you, but it may mean the world to her.

As I mentioned, I have wanted to do something to give back to others.  I have began participating in Junior Achievement this semester.  Junior Achievement is a program that sends people of all ages into schools to talk to students about the importance of hard work, staying in school, and getting a good job one day.  I was assigned to SFA Middle School in Bryan.  I’m here to tell you that I have a whole new respect for teachers everywhere.  It is tough to get the attention of thirty 6th graders, and even tougher to keep it for any period of time.  I’ve been to see the students twice so far, and I feel like I am not very good at this sort of thing, but the teacher keeps assuring me that her kids love having me come.  My main goal is to let them know that you can do anything you put your mind to, and never let anyone tell you differently.  It is a very rewarding feeling to give advice to those students, and I’m glad I signed up for Junior Achievement.

I would like to continue talking about doing things for others, and last night I was hit with the most inspirational story.  During April’s NFL draft, I can remember hearing about a football player from Ole Miss named Michael Oher, a black man that has amazing God-given talent and size.  I have not been keeping up with him until last night when I saw the previews of a new movie coming out that is based on the life of Oher.  The movie “The Blind Side” will show the struggle that Oher faced growing up when he had no guidance because his dad had passed away and his mother was a drug addict.  After attending eleven different schools in nine years, Oher was taken in by a white family.  The family raised him as if he were their own son, hired tutors to bring up his grades, and he eventually signed a scholarship with Ole Miss where he graduated and was a first round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens.  I won’t spoil the story anymore for you, but encourage you to see this movie.  Tim Mcgraw and Sandra Bullock play the roles of the couple who took Oher into their family.  As I spoke earlier, we have to put our differences aside and come together, and this movie seems to show exactly that.  The color of our skin means nothing, but the inside of our heart is everything.  Until next time, God Bless from Aggieland.