News Blog

Stonybrook Middle School students were recently visited by former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end, Ken Johnson.  Ken now works with Sports World and speaks to students around the country.  Johnson’s focus when speaking to the 7th and 8th graders at Stonybrook was, “You are unique.”  He also has a motto he shared with students, “You’re not born a winner. You’re not born a loser.  You’re born a chooser!”

Johnson told students his story: he didn’t make the basketball or football team in middle school.  He prayed to be tall and a good athlete; he grew and made the teams in high school.  He went on to play basketball at Indiana University in college.  His dream was to play in the NBA, but his dream exploded when he started hanging around with the wrong crowd.  He reminded students that “stupid people make you stupid.”  He thought he was done, and the Dallas Cowboys called him.  The Cowboys ended up cutting Johnson, but he was picked up by the Bengals and his life changed. 

Johnson tells his story to students to remind them that, “there is so much in life that you don’t know you can do.  Everyone is unique and has greatness in them, and don’t ever quit on yourself.”