As Robert Ayers stepped to the stage, all eyes in the auditorium focused on the Broncos defensive lineman.
As the keynote speaker for the YESS Institute End-of-Year Celebration, his message resonated with the high school students in the audience because of how well he was able to relate to the group.
“I want you guys to understand where I’ve been,” he said.
Ayers went on to talk about growing up in poverty and some of the “wrong choices” he made when he was the same age as his audience.
He told the students about getting into fights and getting kicked out of schools when he was their age.
But Ayers was able to turn it around and he expressed to the group that included both mentors and mentees from the YESS Institute that if he could do it, so could they.
“I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and fortunately I’ve made it to where I am,” he said. “It took a lot of hard work and dedication.”
Ayers listed key pieces of advice that he thought helped him become a better person that he started focusing on when he was 14 or 15-years old – the same age as his audience:
“The first one is when you make a decision – something I always tell people is that when it comes to making a decision, ask yourself, ‘Is this what I want to do?’ A lot of times if you’re doing something you don’t want to do, you shouldn’t be doing it.
“The second thing is, ‘What are the consequences?’ When you make a decision to skip school or do whatever, ask yourself what are the consequences. If they’re bad, more than likely, you shouldn’t be doing it.
“The next thing is, ‘Who do my choices affect and how?’ A lot of people might ask, ‘Well, how do my choices really affect other people?’ Well, they do, because if you are getting kicked out of school it affects your parents because it hurts them to see their kids doing that. I know my mother always told me it bothered her because she felt like she didn’t raise me right. That always struck with me and at that age, I knew I wanted to change things.
“The next thing I want to speak to is choosing friends wisely. When I look back on it, I see that when I was getting in trouble at a young age, I realized I had the same types of bad friends. Friends that weren’t going to school, fighting in school, getting kicked out of school. I realized that if I hung around those types of people, that’s what I was going to do. At that point, I knew I had to hang around better people. In high school, I began hanging around better people. I had friends that were going to class, so I went to class too. Good habits rub off on you. Understand that peer pressure is real and it does have an affect to you
“The next thing is, don’t be afraid to be different. Different isn’t always bad. If 100 people are selling drugs and you’re not and you’re going to school, you’re different. But it’s a good different. It’s the right different. At the end of the day, it’ll have a positive effect on your life and on your success. Don’t be afraid to be different at all.”
“Another thing that I keyed on was, ‘Remind yourself of your goals.’ At the age of 14, I knew I didn’t want to make my parents disappointed. I knew I wanted to do something positive. Remind yourself of your goals. Me personally, I write my goals down. In college, there was a kid who was our rival in high school and we played the same position. He went on to college and ended up getting drafted in the NFL. So, what I did was, I took a picture of him getting drafted to the NFL and I put it in my locker. So, for four years of college, I came back and looked at that one picture and told myself, ‘I’m going to be better than that one guy.’ Nothing against him, but I knew what I wanted to do. That was my way of reminding myself of what I wanted to do.
“Another thing is, ‘Know why you’re working.’ It’s hard for people to get up in the morning and come to school. Understand that the reason you’re going to school is to get an education and to better yourself to become a better person and become successful in life. Know why you’re working. Don’t just get up and do things that you don’t understand. And if you don’t know, ask someone else.
“Another thing is, ‘Know you can be great.’ You don’t have to listen to any limitations. Sports-wise, ‘Oh, you’re too small,’ or academically, ‘Oh, you’re not smart enough.’ Don’t listen to that. Know that you can be as great as you want to be. That’s something that I pride myself on. I always told myself that I would be great, no matter what anyone else told me.
“And don’t quit. People that quit, that’s the easy way out. When things get tough, see the things out. When you start sweeping the stage, sweep the whole stage. Don’t quit. If you practice that over and over, it will carry over into your life.
“Lastly, understand that nothing is easy, nobody is perfect, and we always mess up. Understand that things aren’t going to be easy. If they were, everybody would have it. But it’s not. So you have to work, be dedicated and put hours and hours of work into whatever it is. You’re going to mess up. If you fail a test, understand what you did wrong and focus on studying harder. Don’t get too down on yourself. Nobody is perfect.”
Ayers stressed the importance of taking advantage of what a program like YESS offers.
“This is a great program,” he told them. “Continue to push each other, continue to be mentors, continue to work for each other, continue the love and to be there through tough times. I look at myself as a guy who has been in a lot of your shoes. If I can make it, there’s no reason why you can’t either. In whatever profession it is. Whatever you want to be, there’s no reason why you can’t.
Keep fighting, keep working, keep seeing your mentors, your parents and everyone here and I’m pretty sure you’re going to be successful.”
Ayers closed his speech by sharing an inspirational quote that he has tattooed on his arm.
“It’s a quote by Martin Luther King,” he said. “‘The ultimate measure of a (person) is not where you stand at times of comfort and convenience, it is where you stand at times of challenge and controversy.’ What that means is that anybody can be tough when times are easy. But when it gets hard, what are you going to stand for. My mother told me that a long time ago. When her back was against the wall and we didn’t have something to eat or the heat was off in the winter she could have easily gave up, but she kept fighting. Since then, that’s been a quote that I’ve always lived by and I want to leave that with you guys.”
-Stuart Zaas
Tags: Robert Ayers, YESS Institute
hint
he would have fit right at home with the mens la cross team
Cat it isnt great but its better than child pornography. Argue with that and your messed up in the head.
Metta World Peace will make a big difference. Lol. On both sides of the ball. Hes going to be fresh.
u have a good shooter that little white kid can shoot
Oh. GO NUGGETS…
haha… Daddy. While there is news about Tebow changing his dogs name… I imagine Peyton is throwing to our WRs….
Cat maybe if the Lakers get someone else or Bynum Gasol and Sessions step up Kobe wont need to. Lol.
the have a good shooter that little white boy oh whats his name lol
btw Skillz what college did MJ go too? Oh thats right!!!! UNC!!!!!
Only because Kobe was on the bench Skillz
i know so it says a lot for him that he is a tar hole but i back him 100%
and kobe would have went to duke and i hate him 100%
kind of ironic i am all messed up
Andre Miller will give Ron Artest fits… I see a T halfway in through the 2nd quarter… Lol
Lol to bad no one knows for sure where Kobe would have went. I dont think he has ever said where he wouldve gone if he had to.
I’m not saying its better than child pornography because I am a woman and being violated that way is worSe than looking at pictures. Just save your breath and don’t try to change my mind because YOU don’t have to ever think about the horrors of rape.
If Kobe had to share his baskets he’d whine like a baby.
It would have been duke imo
who are u talking to cat?
Cat men are raped too. And YOU have no idea whats happened to me during my life. Neither is great. Child pornography is worse IMO because of what it can lead to.
Funny when the rest of the team actually shows up i never see Kobe whining cause hes only scoring 20+ points. Hes the best player on the team. Of course the offense should run through him. Lol.
Skillz who knows. I think Duke or UNC.
AB! He knows too. I don’t know what Birdman did, but Kobe raped someone and he told me that I’d be nuts to say that rape is worse than child pornography. I just disagree is all. I don’t like either of them, but Kobe played and Birdman didn’t.
Wow. I didn’t realize this banter turned THAT serious.
Kobe was dumb. Birdman, just as dumb if the allegations are true…
Not every athlete can be Tebow…
Really? Wow. Neither are great, but they are at least equal in disgustingness, AB and I am horrified that you are so rude about Birdman, but it’s okay for Kobe to rape a woman. Sheesh.
Sndvl… I KNOW! The bar is too high, I guess. Tebow>KB and Birdmand! LOL
i never said it was ok for Kobe to do that. So dont sit there and say I did. I have two nieces one of which was molested. My girlfriend was raped. I was raped and molested TWICE! So dont go spouting that BS to me!!!!
Anyway, body language speaks volumes. And right now…the Kobe Lakers look beaten. Whereas, the DENVER NUGGETS look like the confident squad!!!
What Kobe did was horrible. It WASNT better than what Birdman did. But child pornography can lead to child molestation and even child rape. As was the case with me and my niece. So child pornography can lead to a lot worse things.
Hey, I’ve been through it too. I just didn’t like how you took a shot at Birdman and then seemed to shrug what Kobe did off. And I can have an opinion about it too.
Sorry I made this mess and totally killed the blog.
cat and ab i am sorry to hear that for both of you but at least yall have become productive members of society and not let things like that deter you a big congrats for you both much love
I never shrugged off what Kobe did. I just said what Birdman did was worse IMO because of what it can lead to. Yet neither is great both are horrible. I dont like Kobe. He deserves to be in jail. BUT I dont deny that he has skill on the Bball court.
Sorry I offended you, AB. I’ve been through that crap too and it sucks. Sorry you had to go through it.
btw i am 31 as if anyone cares
Thanks, skillz. It means a lot for you to say that. Anyway, Let’s go NUGGETS! Love how many Broncos were there tonight, even if they are Laker fans,
lol cat ya we can love em i guess hehe
Skillz it took me a lot of therapy to get over it each time. Thats how I actually met my girlfriend was at a group therapy thing. My therapist always told me that you cant let in control your life otherwise they win. So im doing the best I can with my life and hell im going to be a father in late November to two kids!
Congrats on the twins, AB!
I know ab and you will make a great father i believe it i am a father of two as well one lives with me and the other with my ex wife in Germany
Thanks Cat.
Thanks Skillz for that also.
Funny thing. Clady and Royal were at the game together. Clady for Lakers and Royal for Nuggs. Royal was telling people over twitter Clady was pouting. Clady responded by telling ROyal to find a new ride home. Lol.
lol good story i still love eddie
Yeah, I told Eddie to catch a ride with Champ. Clady was for sure they were going to win. Nice to finally have back to back wins against the Lakers in the playoffs. Going to bed. Sorry for all the drama! Go Broncos!
In defense of Kobe…he was never convicted
In defense of Chris… He hasn’t been charged
In instances that involve any type of sex crime in our society, the allegations are enough to convict- in the minds of society. Unfortunate. But a reality.
So. Awesome the Nuggets won. Awesome Florence signed. Awesome the rookie camp begins in the morning!!!
gn i think i am out too long day manana
Opposite Kobe’s corner is that it is hard to beat that kind of money in court. That guilty conscience along with the power that comes with money makes a man into an OJ Simpson. I expect Kobe to finish out his days in prison. That is not wishful thinking.
I think it pretty silly to discuss which is worse. IMO What’s worse is always what happens to me.
Hahaha – Got me and hour and a half of silence – Hahahaha
Going for whole days!!!!
Hahaha – Got me another – Hahahaha
Going for whole days!!!!
and another!!!
Too easy!!!
This blog killer thing is boring! Blog is dead! Get on with it!
Man was there some serious talk on here last night,glad I missed it.I probably won’t even watch game 7(Friday and Saturday nights are for partying) never watch tv while I’m drinking,it puts me to sleep.As for Kobe,that’s right he never was convicted,and he has way bad skills,I think before his career is over he will win a couple more championships,and go down as one of the best ever(better than MJ,probably not) but top 3.Hope we sign some of our rookies today!
BTW,seen another ground hog yesterday,didn’t even shoot it,no bounty collected on the 1st one,so no more killing them,a deal is a deal!
T.G.I.F.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LET’S GO!!!!!!
B.F.E.
Good Morning Broncos Nation! (JOKING, I know it’s country lol)
Nice to see a couple new blogs online this morning. I’m usually so busy with the family in the evenings that I rarely get a chance to be on a computer, alone check into the blog……….same usually goes for the weekend.
Way to stick it to those aweful faider fans AB! They won’t be happy campers after we mop the floor with their a$$es next season. I’m looking forward to seeing VONDOOM take carson out of commission!
Good on the nuggets to force a game 7. Not really a hoops fan, but game 7′s are always exciting. And I love seeing the underdog take care of business.
I think that we made a great signing yesterday………you can’t argue with depth. Looks like we should be okay against the pass………but the run stuff still concerns me somewhat. I’m sure that JDR will have that line whipped into shape come opening day though………so I’m not worrying too much about it. I’m sure Von will be much better against the run this year…….he knows that’s a part of his game he needs to work on.
I think that Elway will make a few more additions here and there and it should be a great competition come camp time. I’m excited to see how our 53-man roster shapes up.
btw – just thinking about heward-bey’s DUI……….what ever happened to Praters? He was never disciplined by the league…….is that something that can happen this year? Same with Moreno?
This just goes to show you how fragile everything in life is. Over the last few years the NFL has unquestionably become the biggest sport in America, even crossing over into other markets and is making money hand over fist. The demand for the sport has never been greater than it is today. Even a lockout that threatened the season last year couldn’t derail the huge demand and popularity of football. Typically, a lockout occurs when a sport is having financial troubles of some kind, but not for the NFL, where the lockout was caused by the owners and players arguing over how to divide the huge windfalls of money that the league generates.. Everything seemed great for all of those in the sport, and the league felt untouchable.
Just when everything seemed as though it couldn’t get any better, and right when the league felt invincible, something happened.. Today there are over 70 different lawsuits, including the names of more than 1,800 different players, that are currently pending against the NFL, all relating to player safety. Lawyers are actively ”recruiting” retired players, and encouraging them to file lawsuits, to jump on the gravy train.. And then there is the Junior Seau suicide, which is a huge tragedy, and the timing couldn’t be any worse for the NFL. I really hope that these early signs of a perfect storm fade away and the grey clouds dissipate, because this is a very slippery slope..
My personal opinion is if you play the game, then you acknowledge the risks involved. No one is forcing these guys to play the sport, they are highly compensated to do so, and they are free to quit at anytime. While I believe it’s the league’s obligation to have player safety in mind (which I think they have done to some degree), I think retired players should NOT hold the right to sue the NFL. I believe that right is waived once you start cashing those massive paychecks. And while more safety rules will no doubt ensue, I sincerely hope we don’t eventually get a watered down version of the game that we all know and love..
Sorry for the long post folks, just something I heard discussed on the radio during my drive home last night, and it got me thinking. TGIF!!! ILMSDB!!!