The Delacour family in general values academics. Might sound strange, given that Raphael is an ISFL player, Sophia is a top level soccer player, and their father, Antoine, is an ISFL Hall of Famer... But it's true. Problem is, whenever someone in the family wants to make a point about their child needing to knuckle down in school, invariably, they call Raphael. Can't call old man Antoine, what kid is listening to their great uncle? And obviously, Sophia escapes these calls, since she's in France.
So, when cousin Lianne called from Baton Rouge, worried about her fourteen-year-old son Remy, Raphael had to step up. Gave them a call on Zoom. Remy made a decent point, Raphael figured. Lianne and her husband Pierre had high expectations for the kid. "But high expectations can't be an excuse for falling short, cuz," Raphael explained. "I had to maintain a 3.5 GPA at all times through middle school and high school if I wanted to play football. I thought that was hard and unfair too, but I did it. I'm here."
He went on to talk about how getting into Harvard has provided even more opportunity than the ISFL. "Sure, I made it to the ISFL and I get paid well," he told his cousin. "But you can't play football forever, man. I got maybe another four or five years in me, if I really push it? I'll be barely into my thirties. Not even middle aged. So I gotta have options, right? You don't get the grades, you don't get to have options, cuz."
"I know this feels like a lecture, trust me I get it." Raphael said. "But it's because I have to tell you the truth. I can't let you go out into the world, my blood, and not give you the information you need to survive. I'll make you a deal, Remy. You hit a 3.0 GPA this year and I'll fly you out to any ISFL game you want here in Colorado, you can stay with me for the weekend and everything. I'll even introduce you to some of the guys on the team. But you gotta hit that three-point-oh." Seeing Remy's raised eyebrow, Raphael doubled down. "Remember that's easier than what I had to do. So you can't use that expectations excuse on me. We got a deal?"
(SHL: academydropout)
So, when cousin Lianne called from Baton Rouge, worried about her fourteen-year-old son Remy, Raphael had to step up. Gave them a call on Zoom. Remy made a decent point, Raphael figured. Lianne and her husband Pierre had high expectations for the kid. "But high expectations can't be an excuse for falling short, cuz," Raphael explained. "I had to maintain a 3.5 GPA at all times through middle school and high school if I wanted to play football. I thought that was hard and unfair too, but I did it. I'm here."
He went on to talk about how getting into Harvard has provided even more opportunity than the ISFL. "Sure, I made it to the ISFL and I get paid well," he told his cousin. "But you can't play football forever, man. I got maybe another four or five years in me, if I really push it? I'll be barely into my thirties. Not even middle aged. So I gotta have options, right? You don't get the grades, you don't get to have options, cuz."
"I know this feels like a lecture, trust me I get it." Raphael said. "But it's because I have to tell you the truth. I can't let you go out into the world, my blood, and not give you the information you need to survive. I'll make you a deal, Remy. You hit a 3.0 GPA this year and I'll fly you out to any ISFL game you want here in Colorado, you can stay with me for the weekend and everything. I'll even introduce you to some of the guys on the team. But you gotta hit that three-point-oh." Seeing Remy's raised eyebrow, Raphael doubled down. "Remember that's easier than what I had to do. So you can't use that expectations excuse on me. We got a deal?"
(SHL: academydropout)
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