In a move that deviates sharply from the typical playbook of NFL players, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and Memphis Tigers alumnus Calvin Austin III hosted a STEAM camp this past weekend at Harding Academy in Memphis. Bringing science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics to local middle schoolers, Austin's camp aimed to inspire pursuits beyond the gridiron. According to a report by Action News 5, the camp didn't just teach kids how to make music and build contraptions; it showed them "there is more to life than football."
Austin is lighting up a different path in a city where sports heroes often cast long shadows. "I wanted the kids from Memphis to see a professional athlete that came out of here and the thing he is pushing is maximizing your potential in other avenues and professions," Austin told Action News 5. The Steelers' wide receiver's initiative, dubbed the SET4LIFE STEAM camp, plans to become an annual event, fueling dreams that may land far from the football field.
Reaching out to kids at a formative age, the day-long event at Harding Academy was also about giving back tangibly, with school giveaway items. Emphasizing that the spiral of a football isn't the only trajectory to success, Austin opened up about his multidimensional aspirations during the camp. "Yes, that was my dream and everything," Austin said, "But just like I say to myself, I could have been a lawyer. I could have done many things because I pushed myself mentally," referencing his comments to WREG.
Indeed, the narrative that Austin is weaving departs from a one-dimensional portrayal of professional athletes. His STEAM camp underscores a multipotentiality ethos, suggesting that a young person can aspire to become a doctor, lawyer, or even president, as these roles are "so less shown to kids so they don’t know they can do that," as Austin explained in an interview with the Daily Memphian.
