Interviewing Eastern Michigan University Varsity Football Player Aaron Jackson
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” -Vince Lombardi Today I had the pleasure of interviewing a longtime friend of mine, Aaron Jackson. Aaron is a 20-year-old, three-year, varsity football player at Eastern Michigan University. He is a 2017 Fall Cass Technical High School graduate who had the luxury of graduating early from high school due to his outstanding academic and athletic performances. He is now taking advantage of his opportunity to study Sport Performance Management at EMU which is a Division 1 institution.
Aaron has been playing football since he was six years old starting off playing for Detroit Pal. He was inspired by his father and uncles who have both played and coached different football teams, and he has wanted nothing more but to follow in their footsteps and make them proud. Playing football has brought much joy, excitement and praise to his life and has motivated him to continue throughout these 14 years. It is a sport that is very popular and highly viewed all over the world. Aaron wants, and is going to make an impact in his community through the strength of the sport he loves to play and he is very confident in doing so.
Cass Technical High School is one of the top high schools in the state of Michigan on top of it being very popular for its varsity sports teams, football being one. With Aaron previously carrying the position of quarterback throughout his high school career, he was able to receive three full tuition football offers throughout the country. His top choice was easily EMU due to the simple fact that they have a good standing in their division and his other offers were going through a lot with changing coaches throughout the seasons. Aaron was a star quarterback in football and was recognized often for his great ability to carry the team to multiple game winning touchdowns! He did mention that it was a little bit of a struggle to maintain a 3.0 GPA, the high school workload, as well as his personal life but he was very determined and adamant to reach his goals. Aaron is one of the most driven, hardworking, and talented friends that I have. I have never seen a challenge stop him from achieving something he put his mind to. With, he and two other football players were awarded the opportunity to graduate high school early and begin college in the Spring of 2018.
Currently, Aaron is continuing his football career while studying Sport Performance Management with the aspirations of becoming a trainer or coach for a university’s varsity football team after obtaining his degree. He enjoys playing football because it is helping him to fulfill his scholarship and graduate from college. With Aaron not being a first-generation college student, it is important to him and his family that he finishes while also doing something that he loves. His passion and drive for football are admirable to most. Jackson is very content with the decision that he made to go to EMU because of his quick adaptability to the university, his teammates, coaches, and classes. He says that committing to this school was one of the best decisions he has made, and he hasn’t looked back since.
During our interview, Aaron expressed how EMU’s current record for the season was 2–4. Aaron stated that it didn’t really bother him too much because the current circumstances that they are facing was a lot to adjust to and they are still adjusting. These current circumstances being COVID-19. It is hard for the team to adjust when players, coaches and staff are encountering people who have been exposed to COVID, on top of normal injuries that players are facing. He says that he is very confident in this upcoming season because they are still able to have practice following their regular schedule. A major difference that Aaron had stated was that there are no spectators allowed to come to their games. I asked him did it make a difference or impact the team’s performance in any way, and he said that it didn’t, and that the energy was still there. This took me by surprise because being a spectator myself, it seemed as though the team feeds off the energy of the crowd. In a way this can be a pro and a con. If the team is doing good, the energy from the crowd will pump up the players and their high drive and excitement would carry them to winning the game. However, if the team is not doing too well, the crowd may not be as excited and can discourage the players. In a way, it is as though they don’t have any extra distractions and can focus on the game.
All in all, Aaron is very happy with his current position in life overall. He is thriving as a student, an athlete, as well as a young man. He is actively working towards his goals daily and working towards graduating and making his family proud. Aaron has said that he does not feel too much pressure in his current state, and he is tackling his battles one day at a time. Football is a sport that he has had a consistent give and take relationship with. He can provide a good entertaining game to people who are watching as well as able to benefit by receiving a full scholarship to a university of his choice while playing a sport that he enjoys. To most, it sounds like a win-win situation. “I really want to be a mentor to student athletes that are in school so I can tell them about my experiences. I want to be able to give back to people who were once in the position I was in and be somebody to these young boys… I know how stressful the balance can be.” Aaron Jackson
