February 08, 2008 12:34 am
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Becoming a published book author wasn’t even on his radar when Willie Spears graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in May 2000, but on Feb. 14-15, he’ll be returning to his alma mater to talk to fellow Rangers about that book and more.
Since his graduation, the mass communications graduate from Panama City, Fla., has worked in radio, was an entertainer for a Disney cruise line and played indoor professional football for two years. In 2002, he started teaching health and coaching at his high school alma mater. He’s now in his first year as a physical education teacher and assistant football and track coach at Camden County High School in Kingsland, Ga. He’s also a licensed minister and a motivational speaker who travels throughout the United States.
During college, Spears was an award-winning disc jockey at KNSU Radio, acted in two theater productions and won the title of Mr. Cinderfella in 1998. He wore jersey No. 5 as a wide receiver for the 1999 NAIA National Champion Ranger football team. He also found time to attend basketball and baseball games, be a part of Student Government Association, participate in intramural sports and attend church.
Spears also had a knack for writing, but it was mostly in the form of poetry or lyrics for rap songs. He’d fill page upon page of notebook paper with his creations. Those writings, along with his ambition and determination, led to him to record and produce two rap CDs while in Alva using the stage name “Da Nickel.”
All these experiences have helped to form who Spears is today, which not only includes being a coach, mentor, husband and father but also the promising author of the book “Keisha’s Dilemma.”
He may not have known it at the time, but being so involved in college was laying the perfect foundation for his future. He now calls that being well-rounded.
“I believe the most successful people are those who are well-rounded,” Spears said. “Well-rounded individuals are worth more to society. These individuals also are more marketable.”
Spears said he’s been telling youths for years “the decisions you make today will determine your life tomorrow,” a statement prominently seen on his Web site, www.williespears.com. That statement pretty much sums up the storyline to his first book.
Spears said the inspiration for the book came from real-life experiences shared by his students in Florida and Georgia. When those students were not finding the types of books they were interested in reading, he said he started throwing out ideas and making up different scenarios to discuss with his students. They encouraged him to turn these thoughts into a book.
The main character in “Keisha’s Dilemma” is a high school senior facing a number of difficult decisions many of today’s youth deal with, including sex, drugs, friendships, dating, college, religion, conflicts with parents, pregnancy and issues of race. The book also is a short read of 90 pages by design. Spears said young people today do not like to read. Since his own students couldn’t find books they were interested in reading, he found a way to solve both problems by writing something they told him they liked – real life situations — but in a shortened format.
“I love working with kids,” he said. “This is an important time in their lives, and a time for them to be thinking with their future in mind. I hope that some ... might read this book and realize that.”
Spears developed a “Readers Guide and Curriculum,” available at his Web site, that goes along with the book and is helpful for classroom discussions. These lessons will help teenagers to better discuss the book and “understand that for every action there is a consequence, and that consequence may last forever.”
The site also offers a number of speaking topics related to the book and in general, which he will share with any group interested in asking. The topics include perseverance, sex education, the effects of poverty on education, being a well-rounded individual and why are teenagers so stressed out, as well as how to go about writing a book.
When Spears is on campus this month, he will share many of these messages with students in classes or special group meetings. In fact, Dr. Cheryl Evans, Enid campus dean and instructor for Principles of Advertising, welcomes anyone interested to sit in on her class while Spears is visiting. This class is 3:20 p.m. Thursday in EC102 in Alva, E208 in Enid, FABD in Woodward and at the University Center in Ponca City. Steve Barrows also has a few desks open during a Wellness class at 11 a.m. Thursday for anyone who’d like to attend then.
Spears said he is looking forward to speaking in these classes and is excited his message is being tied into the university’s annual Black History Month activities.
“I enjoyed my time at Northwestern, and I am so excited about having an opportunity to come back,” Spears said. “I really never left Alva. I can be seen wearing Northwestern paraphernalia on a weekly basis, and I encourage people to attend Northwestern all the time.”
Spears also said he talks to some university employees on a regular basis, still has an account at Community Bank and talks to former teammates monthly.
This will only be Spears’ third visit to Alva since his graduation. He said it also marks the first year there wasn’t a person from Panama City, Fla., attending Northwestern in the past 12 years. Spears said in the spring of 1995, three students from his hometown attended Northwestern and 20 more followed, with him arriving in 1996.
“For me, Northwestern was a huge blessing,” Spears said. “The small class sizes, the sincerity of the professors, the extra-curricular activities and the opportunity to grow and blossom as a person were priceless. I earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, but it was really a liberal arts education. The Northwestern motto is ‘Learn Today — Lead Tomorrow.’ That phrase has manifested itself in my life. I learned at Northwestern, and now I lead young people every day.”
Spears is working on the sequel to “Keisha’s Dilemma” — “Keisha’s Ultimate Dilemma” — due in the fall. He’s planning “Derek’s Dilemma,” the final book in the trilogy, in summer 2009.
Other works under way by Spears include “Real Talk, a Message from Daddy,” fall 2008; “The Recruit/#1 Draft Pick,” summer 2009; and “A.G.A.P.E. — Achievement Gap for African-American Pupils in Education,” fall 2009. He also is working on his master’s degree.
in education through Troy University. He is married to Tanika, and the couple has two children.
Spears’ book is available by visiting his web site at www.williespears.com. The Northwestern Bookstore has a few copies available, and he also will have copies of the book available for purchase during his visits in Northwestern classes.
He also plans to have books available for purchase and signing at a table at the entrance to Percefull Fieldhouse during the annual Northwestern Alumni Basketball Games on Feb. 15, which tip off at 6 p.m., and possibly at a table in the same area during the Sports Hall of Fame games Feb. 16, starting at 2 p.m.
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