Von Pearson Update

[utvolpj]

Way, way, way too many kids overcome a hardscrabble upbringing and difficult life situation only to find their way and take advantage of opportunities provided them. He was very self-aware when he first arrived on campus last January....perhaps he became a bit complacent and this last "experience" got his attention and he gets it back on the rails and handles his business.

Have more faith in people. Hopefully Von can be added to long list of highly successful people who have overcome early obstacles to have a happy and highly productive life.

Those who make it are stories while those who don't are statistics.

I'm pulling for him but it's a very difficult climb and the majority who attempt it do not succeed

 

[KBVol]

And far more from those same upbringing end up failing, in prison, selling drugs, or working menial labor because they can't get into college. Von was one of the types where, if he wasn't good enough to play college ball, he would be working a factory or low end job right now most likely.

That's nothing against him, some people flat don't have the mental faculties to make it in college, and very often those people are very athletic as well. It's one reason our logic of "let's combine education and sports for our professional feeder system" is so idiotic, it hinders some of the best athletes (see, Patterson.)

Are there exceptions? Sure. But the second you start presuming everyone should overcome the odds because someone else did is the moment exceptions stop.

Didn't and don't presume "everyone should overcome the odds".... just don't have the defeatist attitude that just because people are born into difficult situations that they should be written off.

To say that Von has no chance to succeed because he was born into a tough circumstance is crap. He may not seize his opportunity...but then again, he may be a little bit smarter, a little bit brighter, a little more talented and now a little wiser than some of you guys want to assume he is just because of who you think he is. I'll choose to believe in the kid until he shows me that the trust is misplaced.

 

[sjt18]

Not sure it is anyone's intent... but our society would be much better off if people honored those willing to work "factory or low end" jobs rather than acting like something's wrong with them. Parasites living off of welfare get more respect than a people doing all they can to support themselves. It is ridiculous.

 

[sjt18]

Choices, not circumstances, are the greatest contributors to success or failure.

A manager who works for me grew up poor in the projects in the south Texas valley. She could have gone bad- it would have been the easiest choice. Instead, she worked and sometimes "factory and low level" jobs. She was disciplined with her money and put herself through college. She's now a manager making decent money and one of the best my company has at her job.

She literally pulled herself up by her own bootstraps.... and did so because of the choices she made.

 

[KBVol]

Those who make it are stories while those who don't are statistics.

I'm pulling for him but it's a very difficult climb and the majority who attempt it do not succeed

Von's very much at a place where his opportunity is still at hand. The overwhelming majority of his "climb" is complete. He's already overcome so much to be at a major D1 program where, if he pulls his stuff together, maintains his eligibility and puts together a strong season this year, he'll be reporting to an NFL camp this time next year....not wondering where his next meal is coming from.

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

Way, way, way too many kids overcome a hardscrabble upbringing and difficult life situation only to find their way and take advantage of opportunities provided them. He was very self-aware when he first arrived on campus last January....perhaps he became a bit complacent and this last "experience" got his attention and he gets it back on the rails and handles his business.

Have more faith in people. Hopefully Von can be added to long list of highly successful people who have overcome early obstacles to have a happy and highly productive life.

Bootstraps for all!!!!

 

[VFFL@THE BEACH]

Gotta be honest. If what I'm reading is true, it's one questionable decision after another. He can't keep his grades up enough to play? With such low requirements? He has to know his draft stock is taking hit after hit. Just another example of wasting a God given talent/gift. Setting himself up for a hard life or worse. Can't say he didn't have "opportunities". Can't blame anything or anyone other than himself. Just plain supidity.

Unfortunately, I see kids and adults wasting their talent every day. You are correct, he only has himself to blame.

Or its possible to blame the adults around him for enabling him to not reach his potential. More than likely the former than latter but lots of enabling going on theses days.

I agree in that true NFL prospects let nothing get in their way of success, nothing. No women, drugs, bad news friends or academic issues.

I hope he figures it out for his sake.

GBO

 

[Volunteer08]

After reading the past 28 pages...I'm not convinced.

We should probably wait and see.

 

[terrypedigo]

Not sure it is anyone's intent... but our society would be much better off if people honored those willing to work "factory or low end" jobs rather than acting like something's wrong with them. Parasites living off of welfare get more respect than a people doing all they can to support themselves. It is ridiculous.

Them so called low end jobs you are talking about, you can make over a 100 grand a year if you get the right one.

 

[Dragon18]

Choices, not circumstances, are the greatest contributors to success or failure.

A manager who works for me grew up poor in the projects in the south Texas valley. She could have gone bad- it would have been the easiest choice. Instead, she worked and sometimes "factory and low level" jobs. She was disciplined with her money and put herself through college. She's now a manager making decent money and one of the best my company has at her job.

She literally pulled herself up by her own bootstraps.... and did so because of the choices she made.

This is a post we can agree on SJT

 

[Atzar]

Von's very much at a place where his opportunity is still at hand. The overwhelming majority of his "climb" is complete. He's already overcome so much to be at a major D1 program where, if he pulls his stuff together, maintains his eligibility and puts together a strong season this year, he'll be reporting to an NFL camp this time next year....not wondering where his next meal is coming from.

This I agree with.

Von is a year away. 365 days to take life seriously, work hard and keep his nose clean. That's it. I sincerely hope that he has somebody in his ear reminding him of this every day.

 

[peppervol]

Them so called low end jobs you are talking about, you can make over a 100 grand a year if you get the right one.

Is the "...right one." robbing banks? Please name one "low end" job where one can earn over 100K per annum? I have a 30 year old son who is anxiously awaiting your answer. Frankly, so am I.

 

[508mikey]

Is the "...right one." robbing banks? Please name one "low end" job where one can earn over 100K per annum? I have a 30 year old son who is anxiously awaiting your answer. Frankly, so am I.

insurance or car salesman ?

 

[peppervol]

insurance or car salesman ?

After many years of grinding and honing one's skills, perhaps; not impossible....

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Them so called low end jobs you are talking about, you can make over a 100 grand a year if you get the right one.

Is the "...right one." robbing banks? Please name one "low end" job where one can earn over 100K per annum? I have a 30 year old son who is anxiously awaiting your answer. Frankly, so am I.

Read here:

5 blue-collar jobs that pay $100,000 a year - MarketWatch

Of course, I don't know if those are the jobs TerryPedigo was talking about; I just googled your question and this article came up. Note also, most of these jobs aren't talking about walking in and making $100K in your first few years (though a couple, it seems that's exactly what they're saying). Then again, TerryP never said you could make that much right out of high school.

 

[peppervol]

Read here:

5 blue-collar jobs that pay $100,000 a year - MarketWatch

Of course, I don't know if those are the jobs TerryPedigo was talking about; I just googled your question and this article came up. Note also, most of these jobs aren't talking about walking in and making $100K in your first few years (though a couple, it seems that's exactly what they're saying). Then again, TerryP never said you could make that much right out of high school.

Nor did I say that. Frankly, I've never considered "low end" and "blue collar" synonomous.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Nor did I say that. Frankly, I've never considered "low end" and "blue collar" synonomous.

Depending on how you define it, I can see you making a distinction. But I'd certainly include farmer, oil rig worker, and bar tender among "low end" jobs, either way. And yet, turns out one can make over $100K/year in any of those. Was news to me, too, when I googled it.

 

[pismonque]

Von's very much at a place where his opportunity is still at hand....

So what you're saying is—

His opportunity is now here, as long as he keeps those doors open. But as soon as he closes them, his opportunity is... is...

OMG!!! DOOLEY WAS A GENIUS!!!

 

[UT Hill Man]

Is the "...right one." robbing banks? Please name one "low end" job where one can earn over 100K per annum? I have a 30 year old son who is anxiously awaiting your answer. Frankly, so am I.

If you want to make a lot money nothings stopping you. Drive a truck, work in an oilfield, work on a barge travelling the river or on a ship going across the ocean.

Here's a man in SF who made $60,000 a year scaring tourists at Fisherman's Wharf.

The Bushman:

 

[daj2576]

All I found was 8% in the US, lower around the world, with one study of 18 cases where 16 were false.

In like 30 seconds of research.

I have looked into this in some depth.

That 8% figure comes from 1996, or thereabouts.

Here is an interesting article that is from Bloomburg and another from Slate, both from 2014 that discusses the issue in a pretty fair handed way.

How Many Rape Reports Are False? - Bloomberg View

False rape accusations: Why must we pretend they never happen?


Like any good research, or thoughtful inquiry into a topic, you literally won't get a good answer from "like thirty 30 seconds of research."

That is even if there is a good answer to begin with.

 

[MarkVols]

insurance or car salesman ?

Sonic Drive In manager- 20% profit plus salary = $105,000 last year. In Franklin, TN

 

[Doyle Hargraves]

I haven't been on in a few days and page one of this thread loaded. I skipped the last page and it appears that I have missed nothing.

 

[montanatenn]

If you want to make a lot money nothings stopping you. Drive a truck, work in an oilfield, work on a barge travelling the river or on a ship going across the ocean.

Here's a man in SF who made $60,000 a year scaring tourists at Fisherman's Wharf.

The Bushman:

Do you know if they're hiring?

 

[apkvol]

Sonic Drive In manager- 20% profit plus salary = $105,000 last year. In Franklin, TN

:jawdrop:

 

[Remy]

If you want to make a lot money nothings stopping you. Drive a truck, work in an oilfield, work on a barge travelling the river or on a ship going across the ocean.

Here's a man in SF who made $60,000 a year scaring tourists at Fisherman's Wharf.

The Bushman:

This guy is world famous, he got my son and daughter-in-law.