Profile: Football Star Myron Rolle
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- 4/20/2010 |
- 10:00 am
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Athletes are dumb, and they don't take their education seriously.
Sound familiar? Is this something that you've heard others say? Is it something that maybe, just maybe, you've said (or at least thought) at some time yourself?
Well, I'm sure that in some cases it's true. But it's definitely not true for Myron Rolle.
Never heard of Myron Rolle? Well, he's become quite a popular guy in the past year or so. You see, Rolle is a sure-fire bet to be drafted by an NFL team next week. (UPDATE: He was selected by the Tennessee Titans.) And why not? He was an All-American at Florida State University, where he was a three-year starter at safety. He can run, jump, tackle, and do just about anything else that's required of him on the football field. But that isn't what makes him so special.
No, what makes him special is what he does in the classroom. In 2008, Rolle finished his time at Florida State, graduating in two-and-a-half years near the top of his class. But before you roll your eyes and ask what easy major he breezed through -- basket weaving? advanced fingerpainting? -- understand that he graduated pre-med, meaning he is well on his way to being a doctor if he so chooses. Pre-med is among the hardest academic paths there is, and he managed to do it two years faster than most students, and all while playing Division I football at an incredibly high level.
But Rolle wasn't done yet. After making such an impression at Florida State, he was one of only 32 Americans chosen for the extremely prestigious Rhodes Scholarship (one of the highest academic honors in the world). So he packed his bags for England and spent the past year getting a masters degree in medical anthropology from Oxford University.
Next week, Rolle will find out what the future holds for him in professional football. And why not -- very, very few people have the talent to play pro ball and it's a special opportunity. But no matter what, he's made no secret that once his football days are over, he wants to put his education to good use by opening medical facilities in impoverished countries, where he'll make a first-hand impact on people's lives by making quality health care available, in some cases for the first time ever.
You can watch this short video to learn more about Myron Rolle. Or this one. Or, for that matter, this one. But you should also be aware that he's not the only college athlete who knows his way around a library. If you pay attention you'll start to notice that there are quite a few athletes (at all levels) who aren't afraid to get their nerd on. Same goes for just about every walk of life. If you come across a celebrity, be it an athlete or a movie star or something else -- send us an email right here, and maybe we'll profile them next.
Because we never get tired of proving, over and over again, that it's cool to be smart.
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If you like this article, you should also read:
Profile: Rock Star Smarty-Pants Damian Kulash
Profile: Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger
Profile: Olympic figure skater Rachael Flatt
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Dinosaurs are awesome seriously
November 2, 2010 6:04 am
Wow! Now that is what you call a well rounded person. My friend is studying pre-med, and he told me that it is really hard. But do to it in two and a half years! That is just amazing! I love his idea that when his football days are over that he is opening medical facilities in poor countries. What countries is he mainly going to focus on? I admire Myron Rolle, and I hope he does good in this world.
