Walker looks beyond football
William Penn junior fullback/linebacker Brandon Walker is getting some attention from Division I football programs, along with his wide receiver teammate Malik Generett. Both are helping their own prospects with their performance in the classroom.
Walker is taking it a step further -- he has already mapped out his academic journey as well as an initial career plan.
Schools like Vanderbilt and Harvard are giving Walker a hard look and the William Penn junior said academics is going to play a major role in his school choice. But no matter where he goes, Walker knows he wants to major in political science. And once he graduates, he want to get involved in community activism.
"I just want to be involved and give faith to young black males," said Walker, who sports a 3.97 GPA. "I want them to know that our voice counts and we can be a part of stuff from a political standpoint instead of just being professional athletes or just having a success in music or something. We can have an impact in something that really counts and better our nation."
It's a serious outlook for a high school student, but Walker is already showing maturity beyond his years. He volunteers at The New Hustle in York, an organization that works to improve high school graduation rates for area Latinos and African-Americans. He has also already had some political success, getting elected as the president of his class at William Penn.
So will there eventually be a career in politics ahead for Walker? He didn't mention any dreams of high office, but current Democratic Party presidential front-runner Barack Obama had similar interests as a young man, working for years as a community organizer in Chicago.
Interestingly enough, there is also history of Division I football players becoming president. Four decades before succeeding Richard Nixon as the commander-in-chief, Gerald Ford was a standout lineman for the University of Michigan.
Ford's major at Michigan? You guessed it: political science.
Joe · May 21, 2008 9:07 AM
as I read this article it puts a smile on my face.My wife is a teacher in the city we all can see if we help our children they will make a life for themself.Great Great job Brandon I look up to you keep up the good work.