It isn't often that a "favorite" son returns home to the area he grew up in, and so when Inglewood High School in Inglewood, California decided to retire the #18 jersey of former student, Lawrence Jackson, they went all out in the celebration.
They declared Friday, June 6, 2008 to be "Lawrence Jackson Day". And in front of a packed auditorium of parents, teachers, students, business leaders and friends, the former Inglewood Sentinel, USC Trojan All American and first round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, Lawrence Jackson was feted for his accomplishments on and off the football field.
Only a portion of the day dealt with Lawrence Jackson, the football player. Speaker after speaker took turns praising Jackson for the character and leadership he displayed while he was a student at Inglewood High. Jackson's former high school coach, Kevin Moore, remembered the kid teammates and friends used to call "Cadillac", for his hard work and dedication. "Lawrence's character stood out the most," Moore recalled. "He was the hardest working guy on the team, and in high school, its very rare for the best player to also be the hardest working player." The term "role model" is one that fits Jackson to the letter Moore elaborated. And he thought it was especially important for Jackson to come back to the school and community he grew up in. " These young people need to see that a kid from Inglewood can make it. Lawrence could have easily taken the wrong road given what these streets offer. But he had a goal he wanted to accomplish, and wouldn't let anything stand in his way."
After the Sentinel marching band performed and a short video presentation was viewed, Jackson took the microphoone to thank everyone in attendance, but also speak to the students directly about their future. And in typical Jackson form, his remarks had nothing to do with athletics. The recent Trojan graduate with a degree in Sociology focused his remarks on the importance of staying in school and setting goals to attend college. He warned the students about the stark reality of competing for opportunities with other young people who may have had better support and resources. But Jackson also encouraged them to set themselves up for long term success, and avoid the common pitfalls of "taking the easy road". Jackson not only offered an autographed Seahawk jersey to the student who knew the meaning of "instant gratification", but he also pledged a portion of his future NFL salary to the school as a matching donation in partnership with a local business.
After the festivities, Jackson took time to sign autographs and speak with WeAreSC about his future as a Seahawk and how SC prepared him for the next level. "At SC I learned that you never know who you're rubbing shoulders with or who's listening to you, so you always have to represent yourself in a positive way," Jackson remarked. On the field, Jackson commented on the differences and similarities of college and pro football. "Minicamp with the Seahawks was good. It was different than college, and the transition is big and takes a little while to get used to. But once I got the plays down I felt more comfortable," Jackson said. "We played a physical brand of football at SC, and the competition I had with guys like Sam Baker and Kyle Williams sharpened us all. So I'm anxious to see how my training gets me ready for training camp when rookies report on July 22nd."
All in all, it was a great day for Jackson and his family. It was also a day for Inglewood High and the community to celebrate the return of one of their own.
And Jackson promised it won't be the last time he comes around.
