LeBron James seems to be a hot topic all across the country on any given day. Whether he's making headlines because he's switching teams or just broken a record, he's always in the media one way or another. Last week, though, he's making headlines because the 'I Promise' school just had their first day of class.
LeBron built the school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, as an extension of his Lebron James Family Foundation. The school allows at-risk children to have a safe place to study and thrive. It was designed specifically with these children in mind in order to give them a learning environment that encourages them to learn and to keep up with their studies, no matter the hardships they could be enduring in other areas of their lives.
The 'I Promise' school takes the children who are falling behind in their studies out of the Akron public school system and provides a place for them within their own curriculum. There, they are given a specific learning environment to fit their needs, as well as free uniforms, all three of your daily meals, transportation to help aid them in accessing the school, and countless more opportunities.
The idea of the 'I Promise' school is to encourage the children who attend to make an oath that they will be the best version of themselves. According to the LeBron James Family Foundation's website, by attending this school, students promise to attend courses, be respectful to their teachers and peers, and to finish their schooling.
It also encourages them to stay active and to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which makes sense, given the fact that LeBron James is widely considered the king of basketball, and that public school lunches are notoriously unhealthy. The idea of the promise isn't just a string of motivational words, either, because the students who do end up completing the program are guaranteed free college tuition!
LeBron James didn't just build the school and leave it behind; he's still actively playing a role in its development and the lives of those attending. He posts constant updates to the school's online news board, giving the kids advice and interacting with them regularly on the page.
Not only is LeBron changing these children's lives through their schooling, but he's also setting an example of how being a good person and trying your hardest can really help you navigate life.
All this being said, no matter what you think about LeBron as a basketball player, you cannot dispute the fact that he's a good man with a big heart. He is, without a doubt, #MoreThanAnAthelete.
