Thought For The Day – Thursday 20th October 2022
Use Your Platform
Recently, TBSHS hosted Jason Bell. Jason gave an excellent and enthusiastic virtual presentation, greatly appreciated by the sixth form. Adam, a Year 7 student, stood up in front of over 340 sixth form students and asked a great question.
Jason Bell is a former professional American footballer. He played the key position of defensive back (cornerback and safety) with iconic teams Dallas Cowboys (where he led in special teams’ tackles for a first year player), Houston Texans (where he won the Ed Block Courage Award) and New York Giants. Jason starred at college, twice becoming a conference champion with UCLA, the University of California in Los Angeles. Since his career ended through injury, Jason has studied at Harvard Business School, qualified with an executive MBA at Miami School of Business, become one of the top 36 football players on Wall Street according to “Business Insider” and participated in “Strictly Come Dancing”. Jason is now a superb presenter on ITV and Sky, formerly of BBC, giving passionate analysis and appreciation about the sport he studied, played, knows and loves so much and so well. Jason will be seen again as ITV1 covers the NFL game at Wembley on the second Sunday of half term.
In keeping with this sport too, Jason speaks out, stands up and gives back on matters of social justice, wellbeing and community. Please find below some clips from the past couple of years. Jason is with his broadcast partner Osi Umenyiora, formerly of the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons. Osi won the The Super Bowl on two occasions. Together they make a dream team in broadcasting as they did on the football field.
· Jason on mental health challenges: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/american-football/54308550
· Jason on prejudice and discrimination: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/american-football/60269438
· Jason on LGBT+ rights: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/american-football/54671549
· Jason on using your voice and respecting the voice of others:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/american-football/54134763 
Jason believes in using his voice and his platform to make the world a better place. All this is done with passion, humour, humility, enthusiasm, engagement, teamwork , oracy and respect of and for others. He is a great role model and leader who lifts other people up.
Thanks to Mrs. Ellen and Mrs Martharu, you have a wonderful opportunity this Black History Month to produce a poster on your choice of role model and leader who has demonstrated anti-racism. There are inspiring, great and generous prizes on offer, but definitely the greatest prize is in knowing that you are using your voice and platform to make the world a better place. Let’s see many, many entries from you by the first Monday back. The time taken in creating your poster over half term is the very least you, and we, can do to help those who have experienced and suffered, and still experience and suffer, the problem, and celebrate and, be inspired by, those who have made our world a better place and stand up for good.
Make an effort and make a difference. Help others. Lift other people up.
Use your platform.
