Lijah Thompson: Robert Morris University Lijah Thompson | Robert Morris University

Changing Lives

Lijah Thompson
Biology

Lijah_Thompson See Recent Update!

It’s called patience. Takes a lot of it when you work with grade school children.

Yeah, it’s a full court press with these kids. They come from a very tough
environment, need a lot of help. Some other guys on the basketball team and me, we spend a few hours a week at Mooncrest. Play a little hoops with them, checkers, games, but then it’s down to work. Homework.

Sr. Rene, she started this program a few years ago. What a great idea. She’ll tell you, their grades have improved, they’re lives are a little better. Well, she says, “a bit richer.”

But you ask the guys on the basketball team, we’ll tell you our lives are a bit richer, too.

Sr. Rene calls us her lifeline. We call her our inspiration.

UPDATE ON LIJAH

Since being featured in the "Change A Life" campaign, Lijah says he's been trying to be a good role model and the best student he can be. In the meantime, he's focusing on the RMU Men's Basketball team's 2012 season. 

After graduation, Lijah says he'd like to try to continue
his basketball career and maybe play professionally,
either at home or overseas like many other RMU grads
have done. But he's also considering becoming a
physical therapist or maybe even a counselor for kids,
thanks to the experiences he's had through RMU's
Mooncrest After School Program.

And although it's been a couple years since the
"Change A Life" campaign was launched, Lijah says
it still surprises him when people recognize him
from TV. 

"It's an experience just being chosen out of so many people…to be a role model…it's honoring. And I hope I live up to it."

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