Beyond The Game with Rashad Jennings
by In the Game Magazine
Renaissance Man: n. A person with many talents or areas of knowledge.
Rashad Jennings is impressive. While his accomplishments as a professional football player in the National Football League speak for itself, the New York Giants running back’s life off the field is what truly sets Jennings apart.
Whether he’s in and out of meetings for his youth-centered nonprofit, The Rashad Jennings Foundation, learning how to play the piano, spending hours in the Barnes and Noble bookstore refusing to leave until he learns something new, or getting to know the life story of a homeless person on the side of the street, one can most definitely view Jennings as a Renaissance man, a person of many talents and areas of knowledge.
Despite being a solid go-to Running Back in the National Football League, Rashad says there’s much more to his life – and he wants to share it with you, the readers of In The Game Magazine. In his own column, Rashad will share his insights from not only on the football field, but also off.
Everyone Needs a ‘Checkpoint’ Station
By: Rashad Jennings
During various seasons of my life, I stop into what I like to call a “check-point station.” This checkpoint station serves as a time in which I evaluate myself. The sole purpose of the evaluation is to examine and check my character.
While you may have one definition of character, I see character as how a person acts out their original nature, or imitates and mimics the quality of another individual they admire based on one’s moral standards. Character is like the mind. We all have one. But, not every mind operates on the same motherboard or is the same. We are unique individuals and no two people are exactly alike.
Each of us possesses different traits that make up our character. Whether a person is devoted, kind, determined, funny or cooperative, our character identifies to who we are. Likewise, a person can be disloyal, unkind, impatient, grumpy or quarrelsome; our personality is being developed based on such traits.
Have you ever found yourself in a predicament in which a person addresses you about your behavior, actions, attitudes, or responses to a particular matter? Depending on the individual who approaches you about such concerns, you may or may not give it a great deal of thought. On the other hand, you may have a general consensus of people expressing the same ideas about your character. Immediately, you examine the concerns of the individuals as the concerns carry more weight when it’s a group of people addressing who you are, your character.
A person will know when he or she is on the right accord when their character aligns with the way others view their character. If a person’s “check point” doesn’t match with others, there is no need to get mad at them. Take advantage of the time and allow it to be a time for self-examination. Check yourself first.
Imagine with me that one’s character is important simply because it is a “check point.” Check points can be refreshments as should be one’s character. The character portrayed by every individual should be refreshing for and to other people.
Think about it for a moment. After a game, recital, or training for work, a parent, guardian, teacher, co-worker or place of employment may provide light refreshments. Every individual appreciates the refreshments, as they are rejuvenating after a game or temporarily satisfying for the physical body until lunch or dinnertime. In a similar manner, our characters should represent us in such a way that we are refreshing and rejuvenating throughout our day.
During my elementary and middle school years, I was a quiet boy who preferred to be alone. I was insecure. While I was not a rude and disrespectful boy, I was always inquisitive to the things my teacher discussed as well as matters in the world. I had a lot of questions to ask.
As I entered high school, I begin to come out of my shell and was more outgoing. Others recognized me as generous and funny. It was not a part of my character to be found with negative character traits attached to my identity towards others. My struggle was within, my own insecurities.
As you start school, play sports, report to work, or simply go about your day, I encourage you to stop into a “check point.” Examine your character as well as ask other people how they view you as a person. It should be everyone’s desire to be like refreshments. If you find yourself not so refreshing, begin the process of making changes to your character. You will find that it is worth the time.
Well, that’s it for this first column for In The Game … if you have any questions, be sure to tweet them at @rashadjennings and I will try my best to answer them via social media or on this column.
Northeast Florida/June 2015
Rashad Jennings
New York Giants Running Back
Beyond the Game with Rashad Jennings
By: Himself
Preface contributor: Christina Hovestadt
