Bears quarterback Justin Fields visited Breakthrough City Ministries within the East Garfield Park neighborhood on Tuesday to spend time speaking to greater than 20 younger college students and supply perception into their life experiences as they grew up.
“I used to be capable of come down right here and discuss to a number of the children,” Fields mentioned. “It was a Q&A, principally no matter they wished to present me and me recommendation on various things like what occurs if you encounter adversity, adversity, and that kind of factor. It was good to have the ability to discuss to them and are available and discuss to some children locally. So it was enjoyable assembly them right here, positively I had fun.”
Two of Breakthrough’s employees members, DeAngelo Johnson and Jimmie Brooks, moderated the dialogue, permitting the children to ask Fields questions on his childhood, mentorship, soccer profession, and basic steering on tackling challenges.
Fields talked concerning the challenges of incomes a school scholarship to play soccer and ultimately making it to the NFL. When requested if he was contemplating giving up on his objectives, Fields shared the struggles he endured in his freshman 12 months when he wasn’t taking part in as anticipated, saying, “Do I actually need to play? Do you actually need to try this?”
Fields later instructed the scholars: “It is a lesson for all of you – simply because all the pieces is not going your approach proper now doesn’t suggest it should by no means occur.”
From Johnson and Brooks’ perspective, one among Fields’ most necessary suggestions was to focus youthful kids on faculty in addition to athletics. Fields detailed how necessary it’s to have good grades whereas learning for a school soccer scholarship as a result of with out them he would not be capable to play at that stage.
“It was a fantastic alternative to have him right here with us right this moment, he was virtually the face of the primary Chicago Bears quarterback,” Johnson mentioned after Fields’ dialogue. “The truth that he is so open and has this dialogue and these conversations with us has proven me and everybody else right here, that he is human too. He is been by challenges and challenges and has had his struggles all through life.”
After the Q&A, Fields stunned every child together with his #1 jersey and Bears cap, then autographed each earlier than taking photos, hanging out with the children, and even capturing on the basketball court docket.
Whereas Fields’ go to was to college students at Breakthrough, Brooks and Johnson have been capable of take lessons on mentoring and offering alternatives for younger folks.
“By no means get to some extent the place you are too huge or the place your standing trumps your morals,” Brooks mentioned of Fields’ largest take away from his go to. “I believe Justin set a fantastic instance of that. Regardless of how huge or how loopy a schedule he has, he makes time for issues like this, which is essential for generations to come back. In order that’s most likely crucial factor I’ve ever taken to always remember the place it began. and at all times to present again.”
As Fields wraps up his go to at Breakthrough, as a “thanks” for his influence on the Chicago group and youth, Fields gave Brooks and Johnson tickets to this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl in Arizona, one other shock.
“I used to be speechless, very shocked,” Johnson mentioned of his response to the shock. “I did not know what was happening once they referred to as us there, after which he turned them down and mentioned, ‘You guys are going to the Tremendous Bowl.’ I used to be like, ‘Wow, that is my first time going to the Tremendous Bowl and an NFL.’ [game] tenth.’ So for this second and to have this expertise is unbelievable.”
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