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Pro talks on life choices
SIKESTON - Every day in America, 17,297 public school students are suspended, 4,248 children are arrested and 2,861 high school students drop out.
Understanding the consequences of those staggering statistics, Sikeston High School held a school assembly on Thursday at the Field House and the guest speaker was Ray McElroy.
McElroy played professional football for seven years with such NFL teams as the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions. Before his pro career, McElroy starred at Eastern Illinois as a safety/cornerback.
Currently, McElroy is employed as a motivational speaker for Sports World. This organization's mission is to "send former professional athletes to share personal life experiences with students, helping them to recognize the consequences of their choices while challenging them with the message of hope."
A Sports World assembly presentation is aimed at life issues pertinent to today's students. From drug and alcohol abuse to academic leadership, Sports World employs ex-professional athletes to reach out to students across America.
For McElroy, he mentors students on his own personal life experiences and the importance of making positive choices.
"Our motto is 'your not born a winner, your not born a loser, but you are born a chooser,'" said McElroy. "The choices that we make are important because they not only affect you, but they affect everyone around you. A lot of times young people don't understand that and realize that. They think the choices they make only affect them. It affects more people than they realize."
McElroy wants young people to understand that everyone has a purpose and the choices they make affect that purpose.
"There is a purpose and plan for your life," said McElroy. "That purpose and plan is bigger than you. What you accomplish in life is supposed to impact you and your family, but it also supposed to impact somebody else, in a positive manner. It is what we do at Sports World, to inspire somebody else to accomplish their goals and dreams."
McElroy was not a star in high school, in fact he walked on at Eastern Illinois and earned a football scholarship. McElroy credits hard work and personal determination that got him to the NFL.
McElroy enjoyed his time in the NFL, but the work he is doing now lets him use his gifts and talents for a greater purpose.
"To see a light bulb go off that wasn't on before, to get a comment from a young person that what I said in our presentation changed their outlook on their lives is all worth it," said McElroy. "Teachers come up and tell me all the time that they appreciate what I talked about and that they were touched by what I said. It encourages me because I try to live right, I'm trying to do right. It is great when students and teachers affirm what I'm trying to do. It gives me the strength and courage to continue on."
Sports World presentations are not only for motivational speeches, but also intended to help those students who are having problems in any area.
"We try to encourage young people, if they are hurting in any area," said McElroy, "lets talk about it, so we can get you some help. We got kids committing suicide, kids cutting themselves, got kids with anger problems that are taking it out on their fellow students because of issues at home. We give them an opportunity to communicate that and work together with the school system and ourselves to hopefully alleviate some of those issues they are dealing with."
Sports World public speaking focus is on public schools, elementary, junior high and high schools. Speakers work all over the United States and can speak at other functions. In fact, McElroy spoke to the Tennessee Volunteer football team before they played the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this season.
Sports World has been around for 25 years and has spoke to one million people in the last school year.
McElroy stressed the importance of academics for students and to have good morals and values. Finally, McElroy encourages students to make changes in their lives, to turn away from despair and to realign their personal priorities to be the best they can be.