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"Shame" Menafee - Chasing Dreams the Hard Way
by Kenyari Addison
On two hours sleep
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This past season, Ibrahim "Shame" Menafee went to school, played football, and worked. Sounds like a piece of cake, huh? Menafee, however, will be the first to testify that it's just not that easy.
For over a year now, Menafee has been working at the "Restored Hope," a group home for children, going to school and playing defensive end on the football team (five games, four tackles).
"I felt that I had to fight all my life," he says.
During football season, Menafee has usually worked the third shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. When he got off work and traveled back to Mars Hill, he would report to the cafeteria and sign his name for the "breakfast check" required by the football team. "Once I took care of that, I would shower and then, depending on my classes, I took my naps. I consistently went with no more than two hours of sleep."
He reported to football meetings promptly at three and was ready for practice at four. Practice usually carried on past six when he would shower, grab a bite to eat and prepare himself to do it all over again.
At Restored Hope Menafee works as a residential counselor. His job description allows no let-up. He works with kids, most of whom are underprivileged. He takes them on outings, helps them with homework, properly feeds them, helps them set up schedules and makes sure they maintain them.
Meanwhile at the college, he is taking 15 hours towards a major in Special Education. "That's the most challenging major at Mars Hill in terms of required courses and sheer amount of work," says his advisor, Associate Professor Chris Cain. "I can't say I'd recommend it for someone facing all he has to handle, but that's what he wants to do."
Shame is no stranger to challenges.
"When I was about to come (to Mars Hill College), my old boss told me that there was no reason to go back to school. I wasn't going to make it. 'Don't set yourself up for failure,'he said."
"So my drive and purpose is to prove him wrong as far as graduating. I have already defeated one task. I was told by many that I wasn't going to make it, that I was too old to play football."
Shame, now 25, grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. "I got my nickname from my mother. When I was little, I use to run into walls for no reason. She said that's why I love to play football. From then on she called me "Shameless," and over the years it shortened to Shame."
Shame graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1999. He received a partial scholarship to play ball at Alabama State. Things didn't work out as planned. "After sitting out for five years, I wanted to play again. I looked for support, but all I got was negativity. The only people that had faith were my mom and cousin.
"I wasn't supposed to come to Mars Hill. My friend Kendrick Johnson (former running back) went with me to visit Clarke Atlanta University. I came to Mars Hill with him on his visit. I decided to come here instead of Clarke. I felt like I had a better chance to succeed here because of the atmosphere.
"After sitting out for five years, I came to Mars Hill in '05, and played three seasons. Thanks to the coaching staff, I have proved many wrong.
"Motivation is what keeps me going. I thought about it so many times. I got to quit football. School, working, and football is too much, but I thought back to my mom (Cynthia Holmes), who taught me never to quit, to do your best in all that you commit yourself to. Then I also didn't want to leave my teammates out to dry like that."
In addition to his mother, he looks up to his special ed teacher from high school, Mrs. Williams, for his work ethics, and the Indianapolis Colts' Defensive End Dwight Freeney for his field tactics.
Shame is on track to graduate in May of 2008.
"I want to work with kids as a mentor. I'm thinking about changing my major to social work. That way I can help them. I've been through a lot in my childhood, and I want to share my experiences with children to help prevent them from going through the things that I've been through - from making the mistakes that I made simply because I wasn't educated about it."
Alongside everything else, Shame writes rap songs. He recorded one recently with some buddies from the team (Click for related story) - "I'm a man, I'm a Champ." He was singing about himself.
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