FROM THE BLEACHERS-754
BY DR. JACK WELCH
The GED That Changed Everything
Sometimes success doesn’t start with a scholarship, a draft pick, or a headline. Sometimes it starts with one simple step, a person realizing they are capable of more than they ever believed. Javon Kinlaw’s story reminds us of that.
Before he became a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Kinlaw was a kid growing up in Washington, D.C., often without a stable place to live. His family struggled financially, and there were times when home meant a friend’s basement or wherever they could find shelter. Some nights there was no electricity. At times he rode the subway just to stay warm.
Life was survival. School wasn’t always a priority, and like many young people facing difficult circumstances, Kinlaw fell behind academically. Opportunities began slipping away, even though he had the physical talent that college football programs wanted.
Something happened that changed the direction of his life. Someone gave him a chance, and it began with a GED program at a junior college in Mississippi. For Kinlaw, that step mattered far more than people might realize. Earning his GED did something powerful. It showed him that he could do it. It gave him proof that he was capable of finishing something that once felt impossible.
That moment created belief. Once he had that belief, things began to change. He enrolled at Jones College, continued his education, and developed his football skills. Soon after, he transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he became one of the best defensive linemen in college football.
Not long after that, his name was called in the first round of the NFL Draft. This is amazing, but the real turning point wasn’t the draft stage or the million-dollar contract. It was the moment he earned his GED and realized his future didn’t have to look like his past.
Community colleges and GED programs change lives every day because they give people that same moment of realization. They give someone who may have stumbled a second chance to discover their own ability. Sometimes all it takes is one open door and the courage to walk through it. For Javon Kinlaw, that door was a GED program.
Once he walked through it, everything changed.
Thought for the Week, “Never underestimate what can happen when opportunity meets perseverance and someone is willing to believe in you before you fully believe in yourself.” Ronnie Vinklarek, professional coach and motivational speaker.
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.