Canadian Football Hall of Famer Michael “Pinball” Clemons spoke to a small yet excited crowd in Azrieli Theatre March 22 about the university’s provincially funded first-generation program.
Clemons’ talk focused on the importance of having the right mindset necessary to deal with the adversity of university life, the value of leaving with a degree and growing during these formative years.
Valerie Nicholls, a co-ordinator for the first generation program, said the program is designed to assist students who are the first in their family attending university by offering uniquely tailored support efforts and motivational speakers.
Clemons kept an energetic pace throughout with a speech more attuned to the locker room than a lecture hall.
During his speech, Clemons touted his wife and children as his proudest accomplishments, discussed growing up in the slums, being raised by a single mother, and being consistently doubted by football coaches due to his petite stature.
“I’m not a charity case,” Clemons proudly announced, “my mother was always there for me.”
Needing support and being supportive were huge themes throughout Clemons’ speech as he urged students to reach out to their fellow students, while taking all the necessary steps to make sure their years in school are as fruitful as possible.
“I just think he’s incredible,” said third-year women’s and gender studies major Niamh O’Sheah about Clemons’ immense charity efforts and warm demeanor.
“I love the guy, I grew up as an Argos fan,” said Carlos Vieira, a second-year journalism major.
Vieira, along with other students in the audience, were also first in their family to attend university, and spoke to the unique challenges of school life that are difficult to understand.
“My parents are great and always try to help, but until you come to university, you don’t know what it is like,” said Vieira. “[It was] great to hear someone who has the same experience.”
First-year criminology major Julia Evans, who is also a first-in-the-family student, said “he was really inspiring.”
Evans said Clemons was not only a great speaker but was also very rateable to her own school experiences.
“The adventure of life is to learn . . . the purpose of life is to grow,” Clemons said.