Germard Reed
, 2009 graduate of Lufkin High School and former NFL player, spoke to Lufkin Middle School students and teachers in an inspiring message about believing in yourself and your dreams.
“No dream is too small,” Reed said.
He said that numbers count. Reed moved from Los Angeles with a population of over two million to Lufkin with a population of 35,000. He lived in an area infested with drugs and gangs in Central L.A. He moved to live with his grandmother in Texas.
“I felt seen in Lufkin,” Reed said. “I was more than a number.”
After graduating from Lufkin, he attended The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). At UTEP, he was a four-year starter and team captain and selected to the All-Conference and All-academic team. Reed finished school strong by graduating as a top student with a bachelor’s degree. After graduating, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
Reed did activities with the students and teachers and taught them the idea of PUSH: Persevere Until Something Happens.
After the presentation, Reed sent the following message: “To the staff of the front office, teachers, custodians, security guards/police, counselors, and principals, I am grateful for you all! I look forward to working with you all again at some point. The goal is to help mold the minds of the Youth to achieve their inner greatness….Because they are not average, they are not good, they are beyond great!”