About 6 years ago, I had the opportunity to speak at the foundation meeting for the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Mr. Arthur Blank. I got to share my Team Tiger story and how with dedication and determination I battled off diabetes and future heart problems and along the way, got my entire family and community healthy! After the speech, I was blessed with the opportunity to meet a woman who worked with the Southeastern United Dairy Industry Association (SUDIA). She told me about a program that had been in the works for a couple years that she thought I might be interested in working with. This program, sponsored by the NFL & the National Dairy Council, had a mission similar to mine. Spread awareness of the importance of fueling your body with the right kinds of food so that you`re able to get outside and play for 60 minutes every day. This program was called Fuel Up to Play 60.
I was hooked. Not to mention I was told if I applied as a Student Ambassador for the program that I had the opportunity to meet NFL players and work with them to spread this fantastic message! I went home and immediately applied on their website to be a National Ambassador for their program. I had no idea the amazing journey I had just signed up for… I applied in August and come February, I received an email that read, “Congratulations Tiger Greene! You`ve been chosen as a National Ambassador! We would love to have you attend our Student Ambassador Summit this July in Washington DC!” Needless to say, I was ecstatic.
That July I arrived in our nation’s capital to begin what would be the beginning of the greatest 5 years of my life. I was assigned to a team with a leader whose name was Tyler, who little did I know would become one of my best friends in the future. This was Tyler`s second Summit and he was our group leader all week long. But the best part was, he was learning right along with us. Tyler and I spent the week getting to know each other and learning some of the most amazing leadership techniques and getting to meet some incredible people, meanwhile thinking on our feet to set up spur of the moment healthy eating and physical activity breaks. After that week I`ll never forget going up to the host of the Summit, Rusty, and telling him I wanted to do more with this program and how could I help. His response was simple. “Go back home to your community, and prove to myself and the Alumni Ambassadors that you want to be a part of this at a bigger level.” From that moment on, I was determined to make Rusty, along with the Alumni Ambassadors, Kaylene, Tyler, Hunter and Emma proud.
Apparently it worked. I had the opportunity to come back as an Alumni the next year in Charlotte, NC, helped create the Youth Council and take part in the three Summits following that in Dallas, TX, Chicago, IL and Indianapolis, IN. And here’s where I get choked up about this program.
In Washington DC 5 years ago, I witnessed about 40 Student Ambassadors come together and go through a three day Summit of small group sessions and media training. This past Summit in Indiana, I witnessed over 150 Student Ambassadors and their Program Advisors come together for an action packed week. From conference sessions to talent nights to cook offs, plus Keynote speeches from Fortune 200 companies and some of the biggest foundations across the country – this is what this Summit has turned in to. On our final day, the CEO of GENYOUth, Alexis Glick, gave a speech talking about how she had just witnessed a girl asking if the American Dream still existed for the generation of millennials. And Mrs. Glick`s response was almost exactly my thoughts on the subject. The Student Ambassadors are the American Dream!
We have the power to make a change in our future. And for anybody who doubts the power behind the student voice because “what do kids know?”, I challenge you to ask a kid what he wishes you could change in the world. You’d be surprised what their response may be.
As I stood on stage with my Youth Council team giving my final remarks as a member of the team I quoted one of my role models, Steve Jobs: “The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do”
As I read back that quote to the crowd, I turned and looked at my team. I saw Kaylene and Hunter, who were there my first year as an Ambassador, I remembered Tyler and Emma, who graduated last year, and I saw the other 14 Youth Council members on stage behind me, along with the over 150 Ambassadors in the crowd. I realized what myself and my colleagues did with this program – we helped to grow it into something fantastic. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a household name nowadays. And it`s because of the power of the student voice. I started to get choked up and tears ran down my cheek as I spoke because of the amazing kids I was in the presence of. I looked at my team and the Ambassadors, and told them, “We`re the crazy ones. And we`re gonna change the world.”
This is the power of the student voice. We are the future. We are the crazy ones. And we will change the world.
Stay Crazy,
Tiger
Youth Council Member
2012-2016
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