Today, I’m grateful for the opportunity to give young people a glimpse of what’s possible. We hosted the Missouri State University basketball coach and several of his players at our home. These young men are talented, driven, and focused on the game. But many of them are just beginning to think beyond the court—and honestly, some are behind in thinking about their future.
We talked internships. Career paths. Life after college. Because most college athletes aren’t going pro. I told them if they put half as much energy into their future as they do on the court, their outcomes would be extraordinary. I wanted them to leave our home not just with a check to support NIL, but with full vision—vision for what their lives could look like if they do the work.
I love this University because it pulls in kids who are rural and those who are urban—those who are white, those who are Black, and everything in between—who are often the underdog. I love the hunger of these young men and the DNA of the University. I pray vision for the new president as he leads during what is an unprecedented time in higher education.