\u201cFootball has taught me a lot of life lessons,\u201d said Je\u2019Mazin Roberts, \u201924, a middle linebacker. The political science major, eager to give back to his community, decided the best thing he could do was pass those lessons on\u2014so he wrote a children\u2019s book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roberts, a native of Milledgeville, Georgia, was inspired to write by his niece Olivia. \u201cShe would always tell me that I\u2019m like her big brother, her role model, and that really kicked it off for me,\u201d said Roberts. \u201cIt\u2019s about wanting to be a role model for the community back in Milledgeville and be a voice for the kids there. I want to let them know that anything they put their minds to, they can do\u2014that they can accomplish anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Publishing a book was no easy task. After connecting with illustrator Nadia Ronquillo, Roberts spent more than a year writing, editing, and laying out the book, which is entitled You are Amazing<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne thing that I\u2019ve learned from this experience is a lot of humility. I thought writing a kids\u2019 book would be a piece of cake. But it was challenging,\u201d said Roberts. \u201cI like challenges. That\u2019s why I came to The Citadel.\u201d A junior graduating early, Roberts intends to continue challenging himself to greater heights by pursuing a master\u2019s degree at The Citadel Graduate College in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the book\u2019s publication, Roberts has performed readings at several schools in Georgia and South Carolina, including the Charleston Development Academy, less than a mile from The Citadel campus. Roberts, alongside fellow members of the African American Society, read the book aloud, signed copies for each class to keep, and fielded questions like \u201cWhat\u2019s your favorite football team?\u201d Roberts was in his element and patiently answered them all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy goal is for kids to understand that they can accomplish their dreams and just to trust the process,\u201d said Roberts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Near the end of the reading, a dozen third graders clustered around him. Roberts recited a creed, and the class dutifully repeated each line after him. \u201cThrough hard work in school, on the field and off, we can learn, strive and reach our goals. I am the future. I am bright. I am amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cFootball has taught me a lot of life lessons,\u201d said Je\u2019Mazin Roberts, \u201924, a middle linebacker. The political science major, eager to give back to his community, decided the best thing he could do was pass those lessons on\u2014so he wrote a children\u2019s book. Roberts, a native of Milledgeville, Georgia, was inspired to write by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":694,"featured_media":125,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other"],"yoast_head":"\n