During Black History Month, App State Athletics is highlighting some of the accomplishments and perspectives of student-athletes who strive to make a difference.
A native of Montclair, N.J.,
Shawn Collins is a sixth-year redshirt senior for App State Football with an undergraduate degree in professional studies. He is pursuing a master's degree in public health and nutrition.
On the field, he had huge plays last season with forced fumbles on strip sacks in a pair of home wins against Old Dominion and James Madison.
Q: As we recognize and celebrate Black History Month, who are some people that have been important to you as positive role models and influences?
Shawn: My parents have definitely been such a huge influence and impact on my growth as a young man. Not only because they are my parents, but they were educators that I've seen creating lesson plans and helping the community in various ways. And that's from my mother to my father, to my grandmother to my grandfather. It was very, very powerful to me growing up, seeing the connection that my blood, my family had with so many young kids and adults in my community. It was very powerful to me growing up and just knowing that, once I get older and once I learned how to talk for myself, that I could have big outreach as well.
Q: Knowing your family's connection to education, how has that shaped the way you learn as a student or player?
Shawn: The role models that I listed talking about my family, it definitely helped me stay focused and encouraged me to be different from others. I knew that I would be OK if I didn't go home right away after school and hop on a video game or go to this party — that things like that were just temporary, so be mature enough to sacrifice those moments for the greater good. That could be better grades, a better stance or a better get-off after my football practice or a better crossover at basketball practice. My mother, from a young age, would encourage me to just be a leader, be my own man and that I don't ever need to be a follower. That was big hearing that at a young age.
Q: How was that carried over here at App State as a veteran on the team and with the example you try to set?
Shawn: Coming from New Jersey, I was playing at my state school (at Rutgers). I had a very strong connection with a lot of people who came through there and was someone that was hosting recruits and being around their families. I felt like if I had my coaches asking me to host these new kids, it boosted my confidence and helped me know I had a lot of teammates around me who value me and look up to me in a way. Transferring here, it was hard saying I was going to leave, but it was easy at the same time because the people who love me respected me leaving and wanting to do what's good for me. Even going back home to this day, I get tighter hugs and handshakes from people proud of me for coming to App and doing my thing, so it's been a very good transition.
At Rutgers, I learned from teammates like Isiah Pacheco of the Chiefs showing me that work ethic is just everything. He showed you that going on the field and running hard, being consistent and working harder than everyone on a consistent basis is how you get your ultimate respect. Coming here, all I was focused on doing was working hard, being the first one in the drill, running hard, being the one that Coach could call out. That helped me gain the respect of my strength coaches and teammates and made forming a bond that much easier. That allows others to see, 'Who am I to complain when this guy here is working hard?' It lets you know the standard is always leveling up.
Q: Why is it important to you to recognize and celebrate Black History Month?
Shawn: I love Black History Month. To me, it means opportunity. If it wasn't for my ancestors and different Black community activists and civil rights leaders, I wouldn't be able to voice my knowledge and my opinions or be on a platform like this. They set the path for me, and I'm just so grateful that in this moment in time I can sit down and have an interview like this and really voice how I feel and that people care about how I feel, regardless of my skin color. That wasn't something that would always happen. That wasn't something that could happen.
As time goes on, those things have improved, but it didn't start from nowhere. It started from powerful Black men and women who spoke up for the community or went on marches and different protests. I just love Black History Month because I wouldn't be where I'm at today, my voice wouldn't be as respected and my talent wouldn't be as respected if it wasn't for the leaders who started it all off.
Q: Representation is so important when it comes to seeing successful people who have things in common with you. Have there been people in your life that have inspired you in that way?
Shawn: Because I'm an athlete, seeing younger players that were on big stages like LeBron James, someone who was living with his mother and made something out of nothing with his opportunity and his talents. And then once he was able to get on that platform, the way he handled everything. Just the other day, I was watching his old highlights on YouTube, seeing the way he was articulating himself, and he was like 18 years old, but you could hear the respect from the reporters seeing this young man was all about his work.
Seeing that was very encouraging to me as a young African American adult right now. Seeing that just reminds you of how much power and reach that you have and the capability you have to achieve. Not everyone knows or realizes the strengths or capabilities that they have, but when you see someone on TV or a different platform who looks like you, it lets you know you can do great things, too, if you put your mind and heart to it. So people like LeBron or Kobe (Bryant) or even younger players now like Anthony Edwards, I respect the young African Americans doing that now because that's the era I'm in right now, trying to navigate through my twenties. Seeing people like that is definitely encouraging.
