Feeling Down? Think Zerbin Singleton.
I was wat
ching the Navy-Notre Dame football game last week and heard an unbelievable story about the Navy running back, Zerbin Singleton. His story brought tears to my eyes – tears of grace and hopefulness.
The short version is that his mom was incarcerated for drug abuse and other things when he was young. After making the rounds of being raised by Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents, his father came back into his life.
But shortly thereafter, his dad committed suicide. He was in high school at the time.
Pretty severe hand he was dealt, huh? So how does a young man turn that turbulence and heartache into success? Well, he did. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in his high school class. After being turned down at Navy, he attended college in GA – but he never lost his dream of playing football at the Naval Academy.
Somewhere along the way, I’m sure he had counsel who said, “Hey, consider yourself lucky. Think of where you are – versus where you could be. Think of the odds you’ve beaten to even be in college.”
But that wasn’t enough for him.
After his freshman year, he went back at Navy again. This time he got in. And now he’s majoring in Aerospace Engineering at the Academy – and playing college football.
So the next time you complain a little because things didn’t go your way – or you begin to feel sorry for yourself at the hand you were dealt, think about PVT Singleton. I know I will. He had no options. He HAD to make it happen. He didn’t have parents to nurture him – to coddle him – or to bail him out.
He is the poster boy for PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY. Like Nietsche says, “That which doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.”
What an awesome story. It is rare that this happens, but what an inspiration to other young adults.
Stories like this put the reality of job concerns and finding money for the next toy into perspective.
Glad I stumbled on this.
Carl Wright
http://www.1stcourses.com
Happened to stumble on this. It’s great you were trying to help share Zerbin’s story, but you have a few facts wrong here. Zerbin got into the Naval Academy on his first try while in high school. Another amazing part of the story is that he was hit head on by a drunk driver just before he was to report for his first summer at the Academy. The injuries from the accident left him unable to attend not any other reason. He went to Georgia Tech on an academic scholarship for a year until he was healthy enough to enter the Academy the following summer. He is indeed an amazing human being no matter how you look at it…This is just one more amazing obstacle he overcame. He graduates May 23rd.
I want to add to the already great remarks! He is so humble and kind hearted. I had the awesome pleasure of meeting him at this function he was speaking at and invited him to speak to my students at the school I work at. He not only came and shared his story but inspired us all. I truly am in awe of him. I pray that he continues to stay true to his kind and loving spirit. He is truly an amazing person to know and I feel blessed that he is in my circle of friends now.
with much admiration & Love,
Phyllis
I went to Columbia High Shool with him and he seemed like an ok guy, even though I didn’t know him very well or at all for that matter. He was in the Magnet program and I was a resident student. Even though they’re both in the same school, they’re actually like too different worlds. Magnet and resident students always seemed to be seperated. I used to always hear about him around school however. I had no idea he had it that hard with his family issues and all, but I knew he would come out on top eventually, and now to my amazement he practically has. Really bright and has a great head on his shoulders.