Former Colts Linebacker Inspires Imagine MASTer Academy Students (with Video)

By Megan Trent

February 14, 2013 Updated Nov 19, 2013 at 2:48 PM EDT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (www.incnow.tv) - As students and staff at Imagine MASTer Academy are left wondering about the future of their school in the wake of Ball State University's decision to drop their charter, they took time on Thursday to hear an inspirational message from former Colts linebacker Devon McDonald about hard work and dedication.

The gymnasium was filled with students, parents and staff as McDonald told the group about his journey from Jamaica to Notre Dame (where he earned a national championship ring) to the Indianapolis Colts to the Arizona Cardinals.

He acknowledged that he made plenty of mistakes along the way, but encouraged the students to avoid the missteps he made and instead focus on setting goals and working hard in and out of the classroom.

"Words do affect people," says McDonald. "If you believe what you are saying and saying what you believe, people sense that. They sense it and people are hungry for motivation. They're hungry for inspiration."

As for the charter, Imagine administrators say they are in the process of appealing Ball State's decision and want parents to voice their opposition to losing the charter as well. They say most children at Imagine come to the school several years behind their peers, and the school simply needs more time to get them up to speed. They say Ball State should put more emphasis on the progress being made at Imagine schools.




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