Donnie Shell

“Never Give Up”

On March 5, 2009, I had the opportunity to share with students, parents and teachers who are involved in the CAP Program.  The Center for Accelerated Preparation is a two year program designed for seventh graders who are at least one grade level behind.  The Program offers an intense course of study to provide students the opportunity to enter high school as sophomores on schedule for graduation.

Miss Brenda Hafner Director of the CAP Program introduce me to the students and their parents. She mentioned that I graduated from South Carolina State University with a  B. S. Degree in Physical Education and a Masters in Counselor Education. She also mentioned my All-Pro career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and I was a four time Super Bowl Champion.

However I wanted to keep it real with the students so when it was my turn to speak, I thought it was very important to share about my background and how I was raised. I told them I was born and raised in a small town of about 1500 people in Whitmire, S C and came from a family of nine brothers and sisters.  My parents could not afford to complete their education because they had to work and provide for their children. We had to rely on our older siblings to assist us with our home work.

Your choices for career opportunities were very limited.  Most worked in the mill or manufacturing plant, got involved in athletics or hung on the street corner.  I knew that hanging on the street corner was not an option for me because my dad was one of the hardest working men in town.  So I got involved in athletics.  Coach “Lefty” Johnson was my high school coach and mentor.  He was a great inspiration for me and encouraged me that I can do anything I set my mind to in life. We had a very good high school program at Whitmire and one year we won the conference in every sport we participated in.

At the end of my senior year, my academic grades were not the best that they could be because I put athletic achievements before my grades. I did not get many college scholarship offers to continue  my athletic career. I told the students and their parents that I got my priorities mix up and I just needed another opportunity to put things in the right perspective. That opportunity came when I was selected to participate in a high school football all star game in Columbia, SC.

I had a very good game and some coaches from South Carolina State University was scouting the game and later that summer offered me a full athletic scholarship playing football and baseball.  After receiving a second chance, I changed my priorities regarding academics and athletics. My goal now was to graduate on time (in four years) while playing two sports.  I mentioned to the students and parents to not be discouraged in their current circumstance because I came from a family whose parents did not have the opportunity to complete their education. But by the grace of God, hard work, determination and listening to those who gave me good advice, I was able to successfully complete my degree. You can also accomplish your educational goals because God is not a respector of persons. If he did it for me, He will do it for you. Never give up.

Hi,

Our online store will soon be up on donnieshell.com.  The store will have so of my personal items from my playing days with the Steelers.  Check donnieshell.com in about two weeks to view the items for sale.

Peace and Love,

Donnie

My daughter April Shell who an assistant principal at the Summit Middle School in Columbia, South Carolina ask me to speak to her seventh grade male students regarding having a balance between academics and athletics.  On Tuesday February 19, 2008, I spoke to more than twenty-five students.

I shared with them my story about excelling  in football, basketball, baseball and running track in high school. I was the captain in all these sports but I did not apply myself as I should have in the classroom academically.  when the college recruiters came to visit my high school, I assumed they were going to my coaches’s office to look at my highlight tape. However instead they went directly to the academic office to observe my transcript.  The recruters notice that I did not put forth the same effort in the classroom as when I was competing on the athletic field.  Because I did not duplicate the same effort in the classroom, I did not get many scholarship offers to attend college. I mentioned to them that I was very fortunate to participate in a high school all-star football game in Columbia, South Carolina and had an opportuinity to receive a football and baseball scholarship from SC State University.  I made the point to them that they may not be so fortunate as I was to receive a scholarship to attend college and they must always give it their maxium effort regardless if they are in the classroom or on the athlectic field.  Because I had my academic and athletic priorities out of balance in high school, I was determine to put academics first when I began my college career.  My goal in college was to complete my degree on time while participating in two sports.  This goal gave me a sense of direction academically and I was able to complete my college degree in four years.  I also let them know that If you work hard, be determine and have respect for people, you can accomplish a great deal in life and be a positive influence in others lives and in your community.             

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