BE A BALLER -"Building a lifelong legacy"

Building a Legacy in Education: Truth, Identity, and Courage with Dr. Donja Thomas

• Coach Tim Brown, Uncommon Life • Season 7 • Episode 2

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In this compelling episode of Be a Baller, Coach Tim Brown sits down with Dr. Donja Thomas—educator, curriculum pioneer, and TEDx speaker of Blackness Is a Superpower—to explore how truth-telling in schools awakens identity, restores dignity, and unlocks possibility for every student.

From her days as a Junior Olympics runner to redesigning English core classes around Black literature, Dr. Donja Thomas shares how discipline, faith, and community shaped a clear and courageous mission: to build brave spaces where students speak freely, think critically, and lead boldly.

The conversation traces the quiet moments that transformed a substitute teaching role into a calling—and the bold decisions that brought African American Voice and African Heritage Literature into the core curriculum. Dr. Thomas explains why Black studies in K–12 education is essential, not optional—because accurate history liberates all learners, strengthens critical consciousness, and helps heal communities.

Along the way, she reflects on the foundations that shaped her leadership: a mother’s bookshelf, a tight-knit neighborhood, and Sundays in the Black church. You’ll also hear the powerful origin story of Diaspora: Truth From the Youth—a student-led platform that grew into an eleven-year tradition and is now expanding citywide. It’s a blueprint for youth leadership, collaboration, and public scholarship that turns classrooms into launchpads.

Dr. Donja Thomas’s north star is both simple and seismic: plant seeds of lifelong learning, affirm that students come from greatness, and trust that faith carries the work far beyond any single lesson or school year.

If you care about education, culture, and building a legacy that lasts, this conversation will challenge and charge you. Subscribe, share with an educator or parent, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

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SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to Be A Baller, where we're building a lifelong legacy for our families, communities, and the world. Your host, Coach Tim Brown, is excited for you to join him on this journey. On each episode, we'll be talking about how to be intentional about building a lasting legacy. We'll be exploring what it means to leave a mark that goes beyond just our lives, but has a positive impact on those around us and even generations to come. So if you're looking for inspiration, guidance, and practical tips on how to build a lasting legacy that makes a difference, then you're in the right place. So grab your earbuds, get comfortable, and let's dive in. It's time to be a baller.

SPEAKER_01:

She's a uh former uh TED Talk. Uh blackness is a superpower. You know, an award-winning teacher, uh, the building groundbreaking courses like African American Voice and African Heritage Literature, the founding diaspora truth from the youth. Dr. Thomas is shaping how young people see themselves and the world. This conversation is about education, liberation, legacy, as a responsibility and teaching as an act of love and courage. Dr. Thomas, thanks for joining me on Be a Baller Podcast.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you for having me. It is an honor and a privilege to be here with you.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, I've been waiting on this for a while, you know, been tracking you down. I know you went when I when I wrote my writing my first book, I met with you. Yes. And you kind of broke all that down to me. Now I'm four books in now, you know, so it's truly been a blessing. Uh but I I knew you as an athlete back in the day. You know, tell tell the audience don't realize you were you were you were a track star, you know. You ain't just run track. You ran track. Talk about them days in New Orleans High School.

SPEAKER_02:

It was wonderful. And it's so awesome being able to talk with you about this because, you know, a lot of people don't know Dania Bridges, you know, back then. But yes, um, athlete, I was, you know, running Junior Olympics from age nine through 18 for the with the Columbus Jaguars. And I ran at Monroe Middle School, um, Hartler, Northland, same thing. Um, we had a fantastic team. Um, and yeah, it was it definitely helped build discipline in me at a very young age. It also showed me the importance of um mental you know strength because that's what I think take you know with track specifically, you know, it's it's a mental game. And um, yeah, it just really allowed me to connect on a greater level with just with God and also just my own abilities to push forward and to to face challenges head on.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, as I think about it, you were part of the uh teachers academy.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Back in Northland High School, back in the day.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, shout out to Rose King.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, when you fleck on your journey, uh, what first called you to education, not just a profession, but as a purpose? And how'd you end up at Northland in the teaching program?

SPEAKER_02:

You know, interestingly enough, my journey there was very, very organic. Um, my homeschool at the time was Eastmoor High School, and my mom, um, I had my aunts had gone to Northland High School. Um, my family, my grandmother lived in the Britt Nell community. So I was very familiar with that area. And at the time, my mom had told me about the Northam Teaching Academy. And I had several peers of mine also who lived in my neighborhood um and were also going to or interested in. Um, and so I heard about it through them as well. Um, and then we applied and we knew Northland was a great school. Um, it was one of those schools you just, you know, at that time that um we really wanted to be a part of. And yeah, me and uh Zakia Murphy, that's how, you know.

SPEAKER_04:

All of us.

SPEAKER_02:

But yes, um, it it was it's interesting how really it was a a segue into me being able to be a part of that community. I didn't necessarily know that I was actually going to be a professional educator, even though I was taking the a part of the program. I just looked at it as a great experience um and to to to garner those those that skill set. But at that time, you know, I honestly didn't I I I my my you know view as far as what I could be and what I could do uh was was not as honed in to education as much as I obviously was a good student and I enjoyed the experience and I took what I did seriously. I just did not think I was gonna actually be an educator, even though it's a part of the program.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, what was that moment? What was that defining moment where the light bulbs?

SPEAKER_02:

You know, what's funny about that is it took me to go to college, to have some life experience. Um, I was actually um had got my bachelor's as an English major, but I still at the time didn't necessarily think. I'm like, I don't, you know, didn't plan on getting my master's, didn't plan on being an educator. I was loving writing. I was, you know, saw my my goals as a writer, as a professional writer. And I remember um my mother telling me at the time when I was still uh working in that field, but also working um just to, you know, I'm young, early 20s, you know, you do what you gotta do. And she told me that Columbus City needed substitute teachers. And I was like, okay, I can do this. And it was interesting because uh I think peers of mine were like, oh, I was telling what schools I would get, and uh and they're like, oh no, you know, uh-uh, girl, you're gonna take, you know. But I would walk in those doors and I would connect with those kids. And it was and as a substitute, you know what I mean? And they would ask me to come back, and I would just really enjoy and engaging with these young people. There would be times I'd walk in and there wouldn't be plans, but I would just be able to take, you know, things that were happening and pop culture or what was going on, things I had read myself because I'm an avid reader. I would create, you know, uh uh lessons and the ways for us to engage and creative ways, and it was really cool. Um, and I enjoyed it. And it got to the point where people kind of started creating saying, hey, this is something you should really consider doing. Um, and that's what led me to go back and get my master's in education.

unknown:

Wow.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, you've uh before we went any further, I gotta stay on this mom. You've been talking about mom, that name's come up quite a bit, and then the hunts, the whole village. You talk about the village they raised you.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh man. You know, I'm so fortunate. Um, growing up in the Britain Elk community, um, my grandmother mama is what we called her. Um, we everybody knew everyone. You know, it was a very close-knit community. Um, and so we always felt safe. Everybody looked out for each other. I knew every person that lived two blocks around the corner, you know, and and my mother um was also very much um supportive in investing in my, I would say, literacy when it came to black consciousness. I don't know if she was even as like aware that she was doing it because she always took me to book signings. I lived at cover-to-cover bookstore. I had an immense library of black literature. I mean, to the point where I look back now and it's amazing. I mean, most of the books I have, even to this day, from Virginia Hamilton, Eloise Grimfield, Walter D. Myers, all signed by these authors. Um, that's how I mean Arsenal boy. And I was reading my mom's books, you know, at an early age, probably was a little progressive, but still. Right. Um, and she she set me up in a way that allowed me to see the world, you know, outside of what I was experiencing, because obviously I was very much um I love, I love black people. I loved being black.

unknown:

I did.

SPEAKER_02:

I always thought, you know what I mean? It was like nothing better. We like, and and and and my aunts being being older than me, you know, I'm watching TV, BT, what? You know what I mean? Donnie Simpson. I'm sitting here, like the music, the culture, like we were the flyest thing. You know what I was like, what is the problem? Uh, you know, and in my mind, I used to think like, okay, yeah, we're getting all this black because so many, they want to be us. Because it was just, I always felt great. You know what I mean? Being black. Like it was just so I the community I was around. And then even my dad saw my grandparents, they, you know, um, live with an area now Brunswick Estates, but it was a completely black community as well. And so it was just very insulated where I felt like, you know, I don't know, I felt protected, I felt loved, um we were all smart, we were all educated, you know, we all were doing great things, and it just it just felt right, you know, it felt good.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, yeah. You know, speaking of that, uh, your Ted X talk, Blackness is a superpower, uh, resonated widely, widely. Uh, what was that message like?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, man. You know, when I got the opportunity and you're sitting there thinking about, okay, uh, as an educator, what what what angle do I want to take? It was uh it felt so amazing to be able to showcase the beauty, um, the pride, the history, um, the truth, you know, about how great um black people are, you know. It also was a great opportunity to expand people's minds beyond just the ideas that they've been exposed to about who black people are. Um, there's a lot of false narratives, a lot of mis, you know, construed ideas. I think that's by design, unfortunately. But it was just great to be able to show how um young people, first of all, when they're exposed to certain truths, um, even if they're not black themselves, if they if if they're taught about the truth, it resonates with them because the truth is we're all connected. Truth is that they're, you know what I mean, we're we're all the human family. And allowing them to see how things have been um changed, shifted, um, uh even to allow them to see to feel validated in their real feelings. You know what I mean? Because then a lot of times they're like, I felt like I knew that, but I just never was able to talk about it or nobody told me about it. So um to be able to showcase that power, how you know black cultural learning influences so many young people, how um when you learn truths, it can allow you to see the power that lies within you and it can allow you to kind of move past anything that tries to stop you, um, which is really what education, in my opinion, should do. You know what I mean? It should um allow you to uh it should activate your superpowers, you know, it should activate your superpowers, which I believe we all have because we wouldn't be here if we weren't here to do something great.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, you describe black studies as a gateway to critical consciousness and liberation for all. Why is black studies essential, not optional in K through 12 education?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh man, it's essential because we're at the root of it all. You know, we are at the root of it all. Um, even from a scientific historical perspective, we know, you know, it's been proven that we're the original man. Um we are we have spread throughout this globe. Um we have civilized the world. You know, when I say that, it's like people are it can depending on what you know, it could trigger you because you're always taught, you know what I mean, that um we were the ones that had to be civilized, but in reality, um it's it's to to understand just the impact, the real impact that we've continue to have and even continue to have um on those around us, even those that that that um you know may call themselves the civilizers, um, it's important because it allows all of us to see, in my opinion, the God in all of us. It allows us to um understand where that unique gift comes from. Um I think everyone, you can't deny, you know, just the that thing that black people have. And it doesn't say everyone doesn't have it, because I think, you know, like I said, every human being is valuable. Uh we we were not defined by our race, we're spiritual beings, you know, in human form for sure. But even that idea, that connection with with the spirit, um, you know, black people are always showing us those that have gone through all these harsh times. Um, I think that speaks to our connection. You know what I mean? That ability to push through, that ability to know there's something greater, um, that everything that we do has a purpose. We had that in the worst of times, you know. Um, I think that can be empowering and and and a tool for every single person. Um, because it hopefully allows them to start thinking about their connection, you know, and inspire them to stop focusing on difference, focusing on the things that divide us and make us more concerned about becoming the great, the becoming the best that we can be, and therefore allowing us to thrive more as a community.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, you have been a pioneer in in um creating curriculum. Uh you have African-American voice, African-American literature, uh, there are now English core classes. Yes. You know, as you're going through, I'm sure that there may have been some resistance. Uh, but what what what responsibility comes with pioneering curriculum like this?

SPEAKER_02:

I think it's important to know who you are and know that you're in a constant state of becoming. Um it's important to be to be able to just do what you're called to do in spite of people not knowing. You know, I think about that moment when I first brought the idea to start a core curriculum class at Gehanna. And yes, there were a vast resistance. There was. But at the same time, you know, people say, Well, how are you able to do what you did? I'm like, I didn't know I couldn't do it.

SPEAKER_01:

That's good.

SPEAKER_02:

You know, I just didn't going back to how I grew up, to the things that I track, all the things that added up to just knowing, like, you're a creative, you know, you do what's in your heart. Nothing's stopping you except yourself. And so I didn't even think that it could be a problem. When I came in uh Gehanna the very first year, I saw, I mean, literally in my in the curriculum, there was hardly no representation of black people. And the and the stories that were there were very um negative, like they just would kind of showcase the slavery or, you know, just that that dehumanizing perspective. And I right away just started coming in and teaching, you know what I mean, other books and teaching other things. And I didn't even think that I couldn't, you know what I mean? And that just kind of led to me realizing, like, wait a minute, you know, this is knowledge, these are all the core um the standards, all that can be taught, you know what I mean, through black literature. Like, and to be honest with you, when I think of a canon, you know, we have works that go beyond that are older than that, you know, um, and can meet, if anything, exceed some of that. So, so yeah, I think it's important for people to know, like, yeah, you there's no limits. A lot of the limits that we put, we, we, we have is we've put on ourselves or we've allowed society to convince us that we can't do it.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, I'm sure it took a whole lot of faith as you were doing us. Can you talk about your faith too?

SPEAKER_02:

Man, man, going back to growing up in the black church, growing up, um, you know, as a kid, I didn't miss a Sunday. I I I remember having problems with that sometimes, you know. Like, dang, mom, do I ever can we, you know, can we just sit and sleep in?

SPEAKER_01:

Sunday's a day of rest.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, you know, that part, really. But but I look back and um I'm so grateful. Um, because whether, you know, from Sunday school to scriptures to thinking about the first um, you know, um scriptures that I memorized and that I still can recollect and help build me up to this day. Um uh just understanding what the gospel means, understanding um reading it through a context of seeing yourself in it, um, you know, and also being in a space where you could feel the spirit. Yes. You know what I mean? It's it's it's one thing to talk about it, but you could feel it. Yeah. And that has been, oh my gosh, it has been everything for me. Um, just having that that connection, having knowing, like feeling that and knowing that it's in me, you know?

SPEAKER_01:

Is there a time when you really felt that that God was real for you? Because you know, you grew up in church, moms take you to church, take you to, then all of a sudden there's that moment in time when this God is real.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes. Oh my gosh, I think, and this is very interesting, but I I want to tie it back to athletics because I also I was I ran cross country from age 11 to 14. Yes, I know. I was the only girl on my track team, Coach Johnny Jackson. Shout out to him. And um we were, you know, we were practicing over off Hilltop. Like we would have some, you know, whoo, them the trails that he did. It I listen, I I look back, I'm like, I I can't believe we were doing that as practice every day. But we did. But anywho, I never forget it was I was at a meet, a regional meet in Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and I was the only, still only black girl out there running. It was cold. We we we are in this regional meet. There was a a a favorite. We so we ran out, the race started. All I do is I remember that for some reason I got out fast. I don't know if I went out too fast, but I remember just like people was moving away from me, moving away from me. The leader of the pack, I mean, to the point where I didn't even get to see her anymore. Um, and I remember I'm running and and and Coach Jackson, I I hear him, I could hear him all over. It didn't matter. He always had a way. And he I remember him telling me, he just said something like, Dania, you need to tap in. You need, you know, do you like remember who you are. And all of a sudden, I literally started like in my mind, like chanting, like telling myself, you know, this kind of I I don't just something that was keeping me the rhythm and reminding me like, go, you can do this, you can do this. Like, and I I don't know how it happened. I mean, I was so far behind. I can't even explain it. But next thing you know, not only did I catch the leader, but the last, I want to say 300 yards of the race, I mean, I came in sprinting. I mean, I won the entire regional race. And I can honestly, when I look back, I'm like, it feels very out of body because it was one of those situations where it was, yeah, it wasn't supposed to happen. Like it just, it couldn't happen without God. Like I look back and I'm like, I knew that that ain't like I was covered. I don't know how to explain that. I knew I something was in me that was like, okay, yeah, God is real. There's nothing, there's nothing that I can't do as long as I believe and know who's I am.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. So scripture, I can do all things to Christ who gives me strength. He sure strengthened you.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, because he knew you would give him the glory.

SPEAKER_02:

That's right.

SPEAKER_01:

To acknowledge him. It wasn't about dying, it's about it's about you, Laura. That's right. That's right. Sounds real to you. That's a great story. You know, uh, there's a in your classroom, you talk about, you know, we talk about these safe spaces, but you talk about brave spaces. What does that look like in practice with students? Why is that so important, especially in today's time?

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, because it's so important for students to be able to understand what authenticity is, to be their authentic selves, to be able to be able to share their thoughts, their concerns, to be able to speak their truths without worrying about being um disregarded, without uh being silenced, um, especially seeing all the things that are happening, um, all the things that they are enduring, um, all the things that they're trying to unpack. Um and to me, it looks like being able to provide um a lot of, first of all, crew different ways in which for young people to engage with learning, um, so where they can feel comfortable to be themselves, but also to to understand that this life is sacred, right? So it's important for them to know that they they are here by appointment and that they need to show up in that. And in order to show up in that, um, you know, you gotta engage and be present. And for me, I tell students being present is understanding that, okay, nothing is happening by coincidence. Um, the things that you go through in life, you know, that as much as it might not feel comfortable or you don't understand at the time, it's all preparing you for something. Um the fact that I'm your teacher is by is by divine assignment. And therefore, you're also teaching me. And in order for me to learn, you're gonna have to step up to that appointment too. And that means engage, you know what I mean? Speak your mind, use your mind, critically think about things, and and really try to create a space where people, students can feel comfortable being able to question and being able to be vulnerable enough uh to recognize though, too, that they got that that that, yeah, it takes work if in anything, you gotta develop work ethic. I I you you gotta engage with things in order to see any progress. But that if you take the step forward, you know, you're gonna be met with um with reward. Um and so uh to be able to be brave means to be able to speak out and speak up, even when you're afraid, even when it might be, you know, um you've been told that, oh, I can't speak this certain way because this is not acceptable, or I can't um uh, you know, showcase or or or or show my pride in a way because I've been taught to shrink myself so much to push back against those things, you know.

SPEAKER_01:

That's a good word. So young people need to hear that and need to be in a space where they can. And you've created that for them, you know. You everybody's favorite teacher, you know. Everybody has that teacher that they want to come and hang out, you know.

SPEAKER_02:

I hope so, because I remember though, yes, yes. I mean, we all need that.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, yeah. No, that space. You know, uh on that subject, you created diaspora, uh, truth from the youth as a black kid. I've been to uh several of those. You know, what was the vision behind that?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, you know, interestingly enough, that came out of the classroom. And I have to go on going back to that brave space. Students um were so like excited about what they were learning and the things that they hadn't been taught that they literally were like, okay, we need to create something that we can start to speak what we feel about this, to express how this is affecting us and changing us, and also create dialogue with the community. I mean, this was literally their idea. And at first, I was just like, okay, really, I don't, you know, don't know where and how time. They went and got signatures. They did a whole, I mean, it was a big deal. And they recruited myself and several other educators um in the building to help advise and support them in that in that mission. And so that's that's how it began. And then I would, you know, like very similar to my curriculums, the creative, create that creative in me was there to assist. Like they even have ideas, but it was helped to like cultivate that, maybe get them to think about different ways, et cetera. And then that went on um for 11 years, believe it or not. Um, this year, what's really special about Diaspora Truth from the Youth, um, uh because is the fact that it's now becoming a citywide event for the first time, um, which is I I going back to the brave space, right? I try to tell my students or practice what I preach. Like it's it's it's not like this is brand new. This is something new. Um, the city hasn't been exposed to diaspora as much as the community of Gehana has. But I feel like it's so important for us to, especially young people, but all of us in community. And I say all of us, and that goes beyond obviously race and and and religion and sex, et cetera. But um to start to fellowship more. I think young people need to start building more community, um, especially in this day and age. Um, you know, so many things are changing, and I think it's important for this generation to understand that they are going to need and are supposed to create opportunities for themselves. And you do that through collaboration. We have so many resources. Going back to knowing who you are and where we come from, we are the wealth. You know what I mean? And if you recognize that and start to align yourself with like-minded individuals, um, there's nothing that can stop you. There's no the economy, you know. Once again, we we have created the foundations of what an economy are beyond just America, you know what I mean, throughout history, through civilizations all over this world. So it's important, I think, for them to start to collaborate, start to recognize that they need to speak up, speak out, to be able to share, you know, their talents, to show their gifts, to show what they're thinking, um, to emanate their greatness, because I mean they're here for a reason during this time. I really believe that. This is a very powerful time, you know. And so I just want to be able to create platforms for these young people to shine, to come out and do these things so that we can begin to create, you know, a better situation for ourselves.

SPEAKER_01:

No, speaking of that, what have young people taught you through diaspora about truth, creativity, and leadership?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh man. I I uh they teach me so much. I say teach me because first of all, I've had so many students now. And I look and I'm in contact with the vast majority of them through social media, et cetera. And when I say they are out here doing it, doing it. I mean, Coach Brown, I'm just amazed at what they're doing, how they're doing it, the the doors that they're kicking down, the ceilings they're shattering. Um it it it it it stirs me up. You know what I mean? Because it reminds me, like, okay, yeah, I'm doing this, but yeah, there's still levels to go. There's still more to do, and so much um that we can do together. I think my students every single day, it I tell them that's why it's a gift, it's a privilege. Um they they pour into me. I would say as equally as I pour into them. Um they are a lot of them are I call old souls, you know, very wise. And and even the and the ones that even may not seem as old, that youth is also very inspiring, right? That like fire, you know, that fire that's like, you know, it it it's so important. Hence also why I think it's important for for all generations, especially older generations and young generations, to connect. That transgenerational connection and community is is so imperative because it does, it goes hand in hand, you know. It's necessary to keep keep everything um moving in the right direction.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, we need each other. Yeah. Fire and focus. They got the fire, but we kind of can help focus it. Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Keep them on that path. I love that. When you when you think about this, we have I have a scene that I heard says a real change happens when the people who need it lead it. And think about any great movement, it was young people who who so can you speak to young people as the why why your voice is so critical in shaping culture, understanding, and community healing.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, they are going back, they're the next. Like they're here. I I I sometimes look at my generation, I feel like, you know, I I consider every generation, first of all, has its, I look back and I feel like every generation it has its wave and its moment. I know my generation, typically, I always feel like we were quite rebellious, you know? But you need the rebels, right? You need the rebels to kind of like break some things down to help bring the others in. But I feel like this generation are, man, they're the ones. The reason why I say that, every generation, I think, are the ones at the time that they are um living. And and how can I explain this? This is how I like to I'll paint it. You know, we look back at all of our ancestors, right? We're now in 2026, we are the farthest away from our beginnings. Meaning, you know, all of us, if we go all the way down our tree, right? We got great, great, great. I mean, it goes so far back. But because of that, we too, but the younger generation have the greatest army behind them. Because it's like, imagine all of the dreams, all of the prayers, all of the, all of that is walking with them right now. So if they just can understand that, they are literally unstoppable. You know what I mean? On a on a very deep spiritual level. That is to me, that's why I know that they're here. You know what I mean? That's why I think there's so many things happening to try to distract them and keep them, you know what I mean? Because they are, they, they have they're they're here to make that difference. They're here to help bring in, you know what I mean, that elevated experience that we're all supposed to be, you know, moving towards.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, they have a great cloud of witnesses. Yeah. Telling them, oh, keep on going, you can keep on yeah, you know. You know, this is a legacy podcast. So you hear the phrase building a legacy in education, what does that mean to you personally?

SPEAKER_02:

I building a legacy in education means to inspire lifelong learning. To to plant the seed that we must always be willing to learn and grow and become better than we were before. Um and hopefully, with being exposed or exposing young people to more knowledge and learning, it makes them realize like, wow, there's so much that I didn't know, and therefore I have to continue to seek, you know, I have to seek knowledge for self and and continue to share that knowledge with others. Um because, you know, learning is forever. And education is one of those things where it it will constantly um, it will constantly uh feed our spirits, it will constantly uh you know quench what we need and develop a greater um fire within ourselves as long as we pay attention to it and we know the importance of it. So that's why I just always want to build a um lifelong learners. I want all my students to know it is important for them to never stop learning.

SPEAKER_01:

As we come around the corner, uh what do you hope your students carry with them 10 or 20 years from now because they experience your teaching, because they were in that classroom?

SPEAKER_02:

I want them one to know that they that they are loved. Um, that I love them, that they're loved, that they're cared for, that that they can't walk in this world and say nobody loves them and that nobody's here to support them and make the in in and their walk. Um and you know, I just want them to know that they are they're important, they're powerful. They come from greatness. You know, they come from greatness. Um and just that that seed, I mean, there's nothing that is gonna always continue to grow, I think, if you really know that deep down in your heart.

SPEAKER_01:

What's that feeling like? You know, you you uh you've been around a little bit. What's that feeling like when you see students that you have taught in high school and they see you say, Dr. Thomas, Thomas, you know, what's that feeling like when they induce you to their kids, to their wife, your spouses? How does that make you? What's that feeling like?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, it feels so great. It feels wonderful. It's it's not even, I can't even describe it. Because going back to that feeling, right? Um, it's it's like um, you know, a hug from God. You know, it is. It's kind of like, wow, you know, it's to just to be able to to to make an impact and to support young people in their in their journey is it's such a blessing. It really is.

SPEAKER_01:

It really is when you when you really pill the onion, look back on it. And you probably have some of those some of those challenging ones in the classroom.

SPEAKER_02:

And they're gonna come back too. You know it. You know it.

SPEAKER_01:

And they're gonna come back.

SPEAKER_02:

And and and that's also let you know, like it's it's it's wonderful because it never fails. When you plant that seed, it's gonna hit them somewhere down the line.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, that's what she meant. That's what that's what you meant, brother. Uh-huh. This is what we're just planting those seeds. Yeah. The Bible says it's one man plants, another one waters, but God gets the increase, you know. And that's what that's what you're doing. For some, you're planting seeds. Others, you know, coming with that good, solid home, home foundation. You just pouring some water on it, you know. But at the end of the day, God gets the increase. He gets the glory. So, Dr. Thomas, I want to thank you for reminding us that education isn't just about standards and outcomes, it's about identity, dignity, and possibility. Your work shows us that legacy is built when young people are seen, affirmed, challenged, and loved until their fullness of self. To our listeners, if this episode stretched you, challenged you, or inspired you, don't keep it to yourself. Share it with an educator, a parent, a student, or leader who's believed learning can change lives. Be sure to subscribe to Be a Baller Podcast, leave a review, and keep building your legacy right where you are. Until next time, stay faithful, stay courageous, and continue to be a baller. So thank you, Dr. Bridges. Doctor, I got the wrong name. Dr. Thomas. Listen, I appreciate you being a part of the show.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you for having me. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, Judah.

SPEAKER_02:

That was wonderful. Yes, I did. It was like it really was a conversation.

SPEAKER_01:

That's what I wanted to do. Just a conversation with the freedom and just people can learn your story. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

That's the first thing I can think, you know, because I'm if you've enjoyed this episode, please share it with family and friends. The Be a Baller Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. This podcast was created by Coach Tim Brown and recorded and edited by the video production class of Worthington Christian High School. Be sure to come back next week as we continue to discuss on how to build a lifelong legacy. Until then, don't forget to be a baller.