ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Curiosity Stream How Shaquille O’Neal’s Early Childhood Defined his Journey | Beyond the Spotlight
Shaquille O’Neal was born in 1972. His mom was just 17 years old and not married at the time. Shaquille’s full name, Shaquille Rashan O’Neal, means “little warrior.” Even though he was small as a baby, his mom believed he would grow into a strong person. Shaquille’s biological father wasn’t around, so it was just him and his mom. Life was tough, but things got better when his mom found a job at City Hall. They moved into an apartment, and she met a kind man named Sergeant Philip Harrison, who was in the army.
When Shaquille’s mom met Phil, Shaquille felt a bit jealous because he was used to having his mom all to himself. Shaquille made a deal with Phil: if Phil wanted to be with his mom, he had to accept Shaquille too. After his mom and Phil got married, Shaquille realized he had to share his mom’s attention. At first, he was a bit rebellious, but over time, he and Phil formed a special bond, and they became a happy family with more children.
As a kid, Shaquille was bigger than other children, which made it hard for him to fit in. Sometimes, other kids would tease him about his size and his stutter, which made him angry and mischievous. His family wanted to keep him away from trouble, like drugs and dangerous areas. Shaquille found a safe place at the Boys and Girls Club in Newark, New Jersey, where he could play sports and make friends.
Shaquille loved playing football, baseball, and basketball at the Boys and Girls Club. It helped him build character and learn new skills. Everyone in his family enjoyed basketball, and Shaquille started playing when he was just 6 years old. Phil coached him, and they had a rule: no pass, no play. This meant that Shaquille had to finish his schoolwork before he could play sports. His parents taught him that good grades would lead to rewards.
One time, Shaquille was at risk of being held back in school, so he worked hard to improve his grades. When he brought home a report card with all C’s, his father was proud and surprised him with tickets to a New York Knicks game. Watching Dr. J play basketball was a magical moment for Shaquille. He felt inspired and realized that he wanted to play basketball when he grew up. From that moment on, he dreamed of becoming a basketball star.
Imagine you are a famous athlete like Shaquille O’Neal. Write a short story about your childhood and the challenges you faced. How did you overcome them, and who helped you along the way? Share your story with the class.
Create a family tree that includes Shaquille O’Neal’s family members mentioned in the article. Then, create your own family tree. Compare the two and discuss how family can influence our lives.
In groups, act out a scene from Shaquille’s life, such as his first meeting with Phil or his experience at the Boys and Girls Club. Think about how Shaquille might have felt and what he learned from these experiences.
Discuss how playing sports can help build character. List three qualities that Shaquille developed through sports and think of ways you can develop these qualities in your own life.
Create a poster that illustrates your biggest dream, just like Shaquille dreamed of becoming a basketball star. Include images and words that inspire you to achieve your dream. Present your poster to the class.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music] Shaquille was born in 1972. I was 17 years old and not married. Shaquille Rashan O’Neal means “little warrior.” He was little then, but not so little now. That name meant something to me, and I always believed he would grow into its meaning. It was just me and my mother; my biological father wasn’t around. Childhood was tough. My mother found a job at City Hall, and we became a little more stable. We got an apartment, and she met a gentleman in the army named Sergeant Philip Harrison.
When I met Phil, I believe Shaquille may have been a little jealous because we had spent so much time together, just the two of us. Shaquille made a deal with Phil, saying that if he wanted my mother, he had to take him too. After we decided to get married, Shaquille realized there would be another person in my life. He seemed a little rebellious at first, but they formed a special bond, and we became a family. We had more children, and we were happy.
I remember when Shaquille was young; he had a hard time fitting in because he was bigger than the other children. When you don’t fit in, you can be picked on, and the words spoken to Shaquille made him angrier. He had to stand up for himself. I believe he lacked self-confidence at that time. Growing up, he wasn’t the smartest kid and struggled with teasing about his size and stuttering, which led him to be mischievous.
I remember times when Shaquille got into trouble, doing things he shouldn’t have. We had drugs around and homeless people, and we wanted to keep him away from that. My parents couldn’t afford babysitters, so I had to stay out of trouble. When I was 8 years old, my safe haven in Newark, New Jersey, was the Boys and Girls Club. When I first started going there, I felt safe. It was directly across the street from the projects where I lived, and I was glad I didn’t have to walk through dangerous areas.
We were excited to send Shaquille to the Boys and Girls Club, where he could meet new friends and play sports. He loved football, baseball, and basketball, and it helped build his character. Sometimes I would go to the arts and crafts room to learn how to paint, or just play sports. It was a place for me to develop various skills, including people skills and interaction.
Everyone in our house played basketball; we were a basketball family. Shaquille has been playing since he was 6 years old, and I enjoyed watching him learn under Phil’s coaching. We had a rule in our house: no pass, no play. All extracurricular activities came after schoolwork. We taught our children that if they listened and got good grades, there would be rewards.
At one point, I was at risk of being held back in school, and I knew I had to buckle down. I brought home a report card with all C’s, and my father was proud of me. He opened his jacket to reveal two tickets to a New York Knicks game. When I saw Dr. J play, it was like all that energy entered me, and I realized what I wanted to do when I grew up. I wasn’t thinking about being a doctor or a lawyer; I saw basketball and thought, “I can do that.”
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Childhood – The period of time when a person is a child, often considered a time of learning and development. – Childhood is a time when we learn important skills and values that shape our future.
Family – A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption who live together and support one another. – Family gatherings are important because they help us stay connected with our relatives.
Sports – Physical activities that involve skill and competition, often played as a team or individually. – Playing sports helps us stay healthy and teaches us teamwork and discipline.
Basketball – A team sport where players aim to score points by throwing a ball through the opposing team’s hoop. – Basketball is a popular sport in schools because it encourages physical fitness and cooperation.
Character – The qualities and traits that define a person’s behavior and attitude. – Developing good character is important because it helps us make positive choices in life.
Friends – People whom you like and enjoy being with, often sharing common interests and activities. – Friends can support us through difficult times and make our lives more enjoyable.
Schoolwork – Assignments and tasks given to students to complete as part of their education. – Completing schoolwork on time helps us understand the subjects better and prepares us for exams.
Grades – Marks or scores given to students based on their academic performance. – Good grades are important because they reflect our understanding of the material and effort in school.
Challenges – Difficult tasks or situations that require effort and determination to overcome. – Facing challenges helps us grow stronger and learn new skills.
Dreams – Goals or aspirations that a person hopes to achieve in the future. – Having dreams motivates us to work hard and strive for success in our lives.
