School equals success

HICKORY

NFL receiver Justin Harper's message to the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club wasn't about football. It was about school.

Education is opportunity, he said Tuesday in the club's gym to a crowd of kids.

"Don't waste your opportunity."

Harper is a product of Catawba County. He was a football star in high school and college. Now, he catches passes for the Baltimore Ravens.

"It's a blessing to be able to do what I do and work at something I love," Harper told the children.

"It's all about work ethic, same as school work."

He didn't have any trouble holding the kids' attention. After all, he's on one of the NFL's premier teams.

Harper has talked to several school groups over the past few days. The NFL has a close relationship with United Way. When Harper returned to his home for the off-season, he called the Hickory United Way chapter and made arrangements for a mini-tour.

He has an easy way with children and wants them to know that life isn't just a game.

"You want to win at everything you do," he said. "You want to win at school.

"Football was my opportunity to go to school. Without college, there would have been no football in the NFL. You should go to college, too."

He reminded the children that his football career will be over someday, but he has a degree in residential management from Virginia Tech.

"I can come back (to Catawba County), manage and build. I can come back and work for you."

The kids wanted to know if the NFL is hard work.

"You have to work really hard," he said. "We practice from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. We don't just show up on Sunday to play ball.

"I want you to understand that football is really the easy part. Being responsible and going to school is the hard part.

"I thank the Lord for the opportunity that I have. You have the same opportunities. Be the best students you can be. Listen. Ask a million questions. And stay strong in your faith."

Harper told the children to write down their goals in life, then strive to achieve them.

"Don't let anyone tell you that you can't succeed or you shouldn't go to school. What I'm doing, you can too, because you went to school."

Harper talked of friends who don't play football but enjoy success because of their education.

"Remember, you will be examples for others someday," he said.

The star gets grilled

Harper fielded questions from the children.

His first NFL game? Against the New England Patriots.

His first NFL touchdown? Against the Washington Redskins.

Toughest player? Ray Lewis, the all-everything linebacker and Harper's teammate with the Ravens. "He's intense."

Hardest he's been hit? In practice. Lewis got him.

Toughest team to play? The Indianapolis Colts.

Easiest team? The Dallas Cowboys. That drew a raucous response from the club members. There were a lot of Cowboy fans in the crowd.

Is that a Super Bowl Ring? No. It's for the ACC championship Virginia Tech won when Harper played there.

How much does he make? The fleet-footed receiver sidestepped that one. But he told the children about his house, bigger than he thought possible when he was a child.

"You guys can have all that and more," he said. And he emphasized once again, "But you have to stay in school."

Harper tossed passes to many of the children and then spent time chatting and signing autographs.

Later Tuesday, he planned to visit with adults who have sought shelter at the Salvation Army, work in the kitchen and serve in the dining room.

About Justin Harper

Born Feb. 24, 1985, in Catawba.

Graduated from Bandys High School. Played wide receiver and defensive back. Team won state championship his senior year.

Attended Hargrave Military Academy.

Graduated from Virginia Tech. Played in 51 games in four years. Finished college with 83 catches, 1,338 yards, a 16.1 per-catch average, 9 touchdowns. Had TD catch and TD punt return against Kansas in 2008 Orange Bowl. TD catch vs. Louisville in VT's 2005 Gator Bowl win.

Drafted by Baltimore Ravens in 7th round in 2008.