September 5, 2023
Fuse a strong faith, a focus on family and serving others, plus a dash of sports, and you have the phenomenon known as Tim Tebow. Tebow brought this blend to Pearl River Community College on Tuesday, August 29th where he spoke on “Overcoming Challenges: Living a Mission-Driven Life” to a sold-out crowd in the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts. Before the main presentation, Tebow spent an hour with Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute students for an intimate Q&A.
The Honors Institute Lyceum Lecture Series seeks to host speakers who engage, challenge, provoke, and change lives. A generous sponsorship from the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation makes hosting high-caliber speakers possible.
Visit with Honors Students
During the honors Q&A, students asked Tebow diverse questions, including which football players inspired him and his non-negotiables. The session ended with his imparting advice to the students.
“Find something that you are passionate about; that you are willing to suffer for it, then go for it,” said Tebow. “Be willing to be different! Who said normal was the goal?
“It is so unique to find someone truly passionate about what they do. Ninety percent of people quit resolutions because they are not actually passionate about it. Instead, emotions take over. Let your convictions override your emotions. You can change the world.”
Honors students expressed their gratitude for the opportunity Tebow’s visit offered. Each had their own unique takeaway from the session that they plan to apply in their lives.
“I really appreciated the advice, working hard, and finding something you are passionate about instead of just working for the money,” said Mackenzie Galbraith of Kiln and a sophomore on the Poplarville Campus preparing for a chemical engineering degree. “If you are willing to do something when it is hard, you’ll love it so much whenever it’s easy. Be your own person and find your own interest because not everyone is going on the same path.”
Forrest County Campus student Halle Jo LaFleur of Sumrall is pursuing a degree in elementary education.
“He explained how we could become number two if we strived to do our best in life; not number one,” said LaFleur. “I really appreciate how well he represents Christianity and what he is for.
“He made me think about where I am right now. He wanted us to focus on our purpose and bringing others along when we find it.”
Presentation
Tebow’s main presentation began with a dose of humor and how he chose to attend the University of Florida instead of the University of Alabama.
He then expressed his desire to inspire – to fill with the urge to do something – rather than merely encourage. His inspirational message included being willing to do the hard things, showing up with the right mindset, and facing obstacles with the right people.
“The right mindset helps us do so much more than if we are just thinking about ourselves,” said Tebow. “It is easy to get caught up in things that don’t really matter. Yet, we are all willing to suffer for something. Make it something important!”
Those who followed his professional sports career latched onto things that made him unique such as being homeschooled and his unwavering willingness to share his Christian faith. His faith was present as he spoke about his life and imparted what he had learned.
The audience included dozens of high school student-athletes eager to hear more from someone they admire. Andrew Griffin of Carriere, a 10th-grader at Pearl River Central and quarterback on the school football team, was among them.
“It was very inspiring as a quarterback to hear Tebow speak tonight about his faith and perseverance,” said Griffin. “His talk had me thinking more about my work ethic and the importance to do the little things that help you gain people’s trust.”
About Tim Tebow
Tebow is a former football quarterback at the University of Florida, where he contributed to two BCS National Championships (2006 and 2008), win a Heisman Trophy as an underclassman in 2007, and be named the MVP of the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.
Tim was a first-round NFL draft pick with the Denver Broncos and also played professional baseball. Tebow is a five-time New York Times best-selling author, speaker, philanthropist, and football analyst.
He started the Tim Tebow Foundation after graduating from the University of Florida in 2010. The foundation exists to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.
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Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Jacob Cochran.
