by Shawn Nowlin
The percentage of high school students who will ever win a championship as a professional athlete is minuscule. It is possible, however, for every teenager to grow into a champion in life if they learn how to build resiliency, nurture positive relationships and pay the necessary price for growth.
NFL legend Ray Lewis has a voice that matters, especially when it comes to speaking to today’s youth about discipline and purpose.
Drafted in 1996 during the inaugural season of the Baltimore Ravens out of the University of Miami (Fl.), the linebacker spent his entire 17-year career with the franchise.
The resume speaks for itself: 2x Super Bowl Champion, 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year and 7x First-team All-pro. In addition to holding the NFL record for most career combined tackles, Lewis was also named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Since retiring from the league, Lewis has been heavily involved with various charitable activities. His nonprofit, the Ray Lewis 52 Foundation, provides personal and economic assistance to disadvantaged youth.
Coinciding with the launch of a new partnership between Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) and the Summit Sportsplex on Highland Farm Road, Lewis paid a visit to local students on March 19. He not only shared his inspirational life story but also challenged them to reach their full potential.
Students were given notepads and encouraged to take notes during Lewis’ speech. When Summit Sportsplex co-founder Kevin Connelly saw so many young people absorbing what they were hearing in real time, it warmed his heart.
“On this earth, you have a purpose to fulfill. And so many things around you will try to stop you from doing that,” Lewis said. “I come from what many consider an underserved community. I call it ‘underestimated.’ Every one of you has something unique inside you. If you let the world define you, you’ve already lost.”
In 2023, Lewis lost his son, Ray Lewis III, to an accidental overdose.
Describing how that impacted him, he said, “As a father, you never recover from it. I wear him around my neck every day. I never understood how much time we take for granted. How we act like time is a friend of ours. Take it from me, time is not our friend.”
Before the event concluded, Lewis left students with a powerful message: “You can accomplish your goals if you are willing to work for it.”
Lewis’ Roanoke visit is just the beginning. School leaders note that the agreement between RCPS and the Summit will allow access to the facility for other programs, future events and mentorship opportunities, all free of charge.
Said Superintendent Verletta White, “This is a moment that we don’t get very often. I know that it’s a tight time for resources, but we are not going to let that get in the way of special opportunities for us. I am so thankful for all our partners who helped make today possible.”
Additional speakers and programs are already planned to keep students connected and inspired.
