Bryant: 'Take advantage of your education'
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Former student-athlete Joseph "Red" Bryant spent a day at Jasper High School last week, speaking to students enrolled in TAKS preparation classes. Bryant, who graduated from Texas A&M in December where he was captain of the football team, did not focus on his outstanding high school and college athletic career nor his prospects for the upcoming NFLdraft; instead, he urged students to put education first.

"Graduating from Texas A&M is my greatest achievement," Bryant said. "Take advantage of your education. Education will take you farther than athletics. I was the first college graduate in my immediate family, and getting my education is what is most fulfilling for me."

As he talked with students in Jeff Hicks' Math Models class, he told about his own experience as a high school freshman and how he had committed a foolish act, landing him in Special Assignment School the first semester.

"I didn't even get to play football that year. I was in SAC and when I came back to school, I had a string of F's," he said. "I had to make up for the time I lost. Don't waste your time because you can never get it back. Coach Ronnie Pickle helped me and the first time I took the TAKS test, I passed it. I passed because I was committed."

Bryant told them about taking algebra from Hicks and how hard he had to work because he had been in special education until the ninth grade.

"I sat on the front row, right there where he could help me," he said. "You need to ask your teachers questions when you don't understand something. I know. Some people are going to be laughing at you but that's ok. The only stupid question is not asking the question. What a lot of people didn't know was that I came in early for help and I stayed after when I needed help."

He challenged the students to do whatever it takes to pass the TAKS test.

"Passing the TAKS test is your most important goal right now, and you have to believe you can do it. Your teachers are here to help you. Look at Mr. Hicks, over there. He will tutor you. I know because he helped me. "

He suggested that students set goals for themselves and work toward those goals.

"Set goals for yourself," he said. "Write them on a piece of paper. That's what I do. Put that paper where in a place where you can see it and look at it every day. And make the TAKS test your first goal."

Bryant told the students that their situations are not different than his at that age. For him, there was a great deal to overcome and he challenged them to get the help they need.

"I was in Content Mastery. I'm that guy. You know, you sneak in there to get help, hoping no one sees you. But you need to take the opportunities you have. I used to get mad when I made a C. I wanted to be on the honor roll and be in the Jasper Newsboy. I had to work very hard to make good grades."

He also told them that they shouldn't use their situations as an excuse for not doing well in school.

"Don't' let material things hold you back. Look at me. I grew up in the projects- Pineview Apartments number 7. The world doesn't care about your situation. You can get the help you need now because you are where people will help you."

Bryant went on to tell about needing to make a good score on the ACT in order to get into college.

"The acceptable score at that time was 18," he said. "The first two times I took it, I made real low scores. The third time, I made a 12 and thought that was the best I could do. I was ready to sign with a junior college, but my English teacher, Mrs. Sue Brooks tutored me. The day the results came, I was so nervous I could hardly open the envelope and my mama was shaking, she was so nervous. On that fourth try, I scored 19. You see, I didn't give up and I had people willing to help me."

Bryant also talked about students getting involved in gangs and how those groups deter them from reaching their goals.

"Every time I come home and hear that some Jasper High School kids are in gangs, it makes me sad. Are you going to let someone tell you you have to wear red or blue? Are you going to let a bunch of thugs control your life? Be an individual. Make your own decisions."

The real world, he said, involves learning how to read, learning how to read things like contracts, learning about investments and how to manage money.

"Your teachers are trying to equip you for the real world. Take advantage of those teachers and coaches who are trying to help you."

He also told them not to be afraid of failure. He had faced failure but his determination to be a college graduate kept him trying until he succeeded.

"I needed History 106 to graduate from college and that course had a lot of reading, like 10 books," he said. "When you are an athlete, you have no time. I took that class three times before I passed Three times! You see, I didn't give up."

Bryant has just completed the Combine and is waiting for the NFLdraft in April. He said he did well and expects to be anywhere from a second to fourth round pick.

"I've interviewed with about 22 teams," he said. "Of course, I would love to be play for the Dallas Cowboys. That's my childhood dream. I did well in the Combine and now I'm just waiting I will start visiting teams at the end of the month."

Of his talks at Jasper High School, Bryant said he wanted to encourage students to do their best and to believe in themselves. He also wanted them to know that education is important.

"I want to encourage them to do their best and get an education," he said. "Teachers, coaches and parents can help kids by always encouraging them. Don't put them down. Tell them they can do it. Help them. I remember Coach Pickle telling me in junior high that I had potential. I didn't think much of myself at that time. A lot of people helped me- teachers, coaches and my family was also supportive, especially my mother. All kids need people to be supportive."