Kevin Carroll speaks to junior Peter Otto after an inspirational speech to students in the auditorium on Nov. 13. (Photo by Brittany Patton)
Brittany Patton
News/Opinion Editor
Kevin Carroll inspired by a Red Rubber Ball that led him to work at Nike, where he earned the title “Katalyst,” shared his story to students on Nov. 13, in the auditorium.
Carroll was born in Bryn Mawr, PA, in 1958. At age three, Carroll was abandoned by his father. Three years later his drug-addicted mother left him and his two brothers, who were all under the age of nine, in a trailer for days with little food and water and ordered them not to leave.
Carroll and his two brothers were rescued by his grandparents, whom he called Mom-mom and Pop-pop and moved into their wealthy suburb of Philadelphia.
One day Carroll discovered the park and a red rubber ball and started to play with it, releasing his emotions as he chased after the ball for hours.
“Then I discovered the playground! The playground and its wide-open field became my friend. It was a gathering place. It was a free place. It was there that I discovered sports—and the red rubber ball that fueled my dreams,” said Carroll in his book, Rules of the Red Rubber Ball.
Carroll knew he loved books, sports and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and wanted to incorporate all of them, at least the books and sports, into a career. Carroll became the athletic trainer for Philadelphia 76ers.
Carroll told WGHS students to D.R.E.A.M., which means, have
Dedication, Responsibility, Education, Attitude and Motivation.
