Though I wasn’t a self-critical kid, when it came to drawing, by this age, I was more than well aware of my inability to mimic Picasso. While he misplaced features in his designs on purpose, I mislaid my elements due to sheer incompetence with the pencil. For whatever reason, with every art class assignment, the concept I aspired to project onto the paper never landed on the sheet how I first envisioned it in my mind. Unlike how Mickey Mantle’s bat was an extension of his hands, the drawing stick I used was anything but connected with my being. Because of his connection with his tool accessory, Mantle hit over 500 home runs, and because of my invalid link, I inked 0 masterpieces.
In this scene, the reason I was pondering over my disdain for cartooning is because it was Square 1 Art day. For those unfamiliar, Square 1 Art was a school fundraising program that allowed students to produce something on a piece of paper, then take their showpiece and put it on useful items like shirts, coffee mugs, refrigerator magnets, and notebooks.
Thinking back, if you were a kid who loved drawing, it had to have been a very cool program. The idea of transporting your personal depiction onto something of value is sweet, but if you’re not adept with the instrument in hand, then having to participate was rather pedantic. When you’re young, there’s nothing worse than having to do something that you know you’re not good at, especially when it’s an act you don’t hold in high regard. Sure, I’m not the best drawer, but do I care? Heck no. In fact, my artistic shortcomings make me appreciate those with the skill to sketch even more.
Nonetheless, on this particular day in the spacey, vibrant art room, for my submission, I neglected my inaptitude to draw and opted to express admiration for one of my favorite athletes. When in doubt, showcase your appreciation in some capacity, and everything will sort itself out, right? (I was not a philosophically minded kid, so this thought did not pop into my 9-year-old head, but in hindsight, I now see the value in leaning on what you cherish to power you through.)
The prized competitor I was alluding to was Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens. Not only did I love watching ‘T.O.’ shine on Sundays, but I also enjoyed playing with his team in the iconic video game, ESPN NFL 2K5. As you’ll find in the photo below, Owens was the cover athlete, and his ability in the game backed up this illustrious honor.
Rather than attempting to scrawl a replica of the standout receiver, as the last thing I wanted to do was disrespect one of my favorite ballers by sketching an inaccurate portrayal, I decided to draw the top half of a chuffed enthusiast. To match his flat-brimmed, black-striped, green hat, I gave my fan a custom Owens jersey. One that had the word ‘Eagles’ published in sloppy text, with his number 81 adjoined to the untidy word in the most jumbled manner possible. Given this chaotic-styled uniform, it’s no surprise that this supporter is operating in the absence of hands.
After positioning the gratified pigskin devotee inside a misshapen square, I autographed my magnum opus and called it a day. As part of the process, my family decided to order a set of refrigerator magnets (see example below), along with a notebook (cover photo) to commemorate my hard work.
Now you’re probably wondering why I’m thankful for this random elementary school experience. Well, as luck would have it, when I wrote my first book, Trust The Grind, I was blessed with the opportunity to interview the one and only Terrell Owens for my ‘Stay Driven’ chapter. The Hall of Famer couldn’t have been cooler or more gracious with his time. We had a fantastic conversation, and his journey to the NFL fit like a glove as it pertained to the purpose of my project.
As I sit here in a reflective state, I wonder if my decision to venerate him in my etching as a kid played a role in the happenings that would transpire when I was 22. I’m also curious if any of my other classmates got the opportunity to create inspirational content with their drawing or if I was the lone lucky fellow.
Jeremy’s Journal is Jeremy’s way of expressing his gratitude to the world. At the end of each 500-1,000 word post, he will include a ‘Life Lesson’ of some kind. His goal is to remind himself and his readers how awesome everyone’s journey can be when perceived through the proper lens.