The students packed in Plymouth High School’s gymnasium on Thursday morning started their day with an extra dose of inspiration, courtesy of former NFL player and motivational speaker Devon McDonald.
Self-described as “optimistically real,” McDonald touched on topics such as bullying, being drug-free and alcohol-free, and suicide awareness while simultaneously preaching a positive message. His hour-long presentation to students in grades six through 12 from Shiloh Middle School and Plymouth High School had both personal stories and humor.
“Speaking is really easy because I’m a consumer of my message,” said McDonald. “I’m motivating and inspiring myself this morning while I’m doing that to them, so even if I didn’t do it to them, I’m doing it to me.”
McDonald’s football career began at Notre Dame, where he was team captain as a senior, an Honorable Mention All-American in 1992, a member of the 1988 national title team and was named co-MVP in the 1993 Cotton Bowl game. After college, McDonald was an NFL linebacker for four seasons, three of them for the Indianapolis Colts and one for the Arizona Cardinals.
Even through his football career, McDonald knew speaking to students was something he eventually wanted to do, partially thanks to the inspirational talks from former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz.
“I grew up in a house that wasn’t positive,” he said. “When I was at Notre Dame, to hear Lou Holtz and what he was saying to me, it was eye-opening. I’d never heard things like this. While my friends were like ‘when is this old man going to shut up,’ deep down I’m like, I love this! I would go to his office just to talk to him and get some of that. And I know if I’m like that, at least 30 percent of these students are like that.”
McDonald’s post-NFL career involves being an ordained minister as well as a motivational speaker with Sports World Ministries, an organization that sends professional athletes to share personal life experiences with students, helping them to recognize the consequences of their choices while challenging them with a message of hope.
His positive message was what inspired Plymouth High School Principal Amanda Mahon to bring him to speak to her students.
“With the issues we have in the area and the bullying that takes place and knowing his message addressed that, I definitely felt like it was something positive we could do for the student body,” said Mahon. “I thought it was a real positive message for the kids, hopefully it has a positive impact on their thoughts and feelings, how they treat others, and the choices that they make for the future.”
Among many pearls of wisdom, a few ideas repeated by McDonald on Thursday were to disagree with adults without disrespecting them, knowing that what goes around comes around, and encouraging students not just to take responsibility but to take action. Naturally, sports metaphors were part of his message.
“It’s not basketball without a rim; it’s not football without an end zone,” said McDonald. “So why would you go through life without an end goal?”
McDonald encouraged Plymouth’s students to know what they want to do, believe in what they do, and love what they do. He stated, “you’re not born a winner, you’re not born a loser: you’re born a chooser.”
“I believe in perpetual learning,” said McDonald. “You’re either getting better, or you’re getting worse. You’re either growing or dying, if you think you’re the same you’re lying.”
“You’re headed in a direction, positively or negatively,” he continued. “You can be from a bad home and make good decisions, you can be from a good home and make bad decisions, but ultimately it’s up to you. Literally, it’s a choice that I’m making.”
