When someone decides to write a book, they can go in multiple directions; they can write a novel, a comic book, etc. But for Je’Mazin Roberts, a two-time high school state football champion and three-time high school region football champion, the only reasonable type of book was one for children.
Roberts returned to his hometown to read his new children’s book, You Are Amazing at John Milledge Academy (JMA) Friday, March 17.
In attendance were the elementary and middle-grade students, faculty, staff and Roberts’ immediate family. The event was held in JMA’s auditorium, where everyone waited in anticipation for the JMA alumnus to read.
“I wrote this for the children,” said Roberts in his opening speech. “I hope the children not only enjoy the book but help spread the message of positivity and love throughout the school.”
After he read the book, Roberts hand-signed books with a personalized message for roughly 200 students. During the signing, he interacted with the audience by speaking to them, asking questions, and thanking each person he spoke to for allowing him to read. According to some students in attendance, it was the “best Friday of the school year so far.”
“I enjoyed having a local hero continue to inspire the students,” said Amy Duke, John Milledge Academy’s director of lower grades education.
In an interview, Roberts informed The Baldwin Bulletin that the inspiration for his book came from his time back in Milledgeville during a January break from college. He believed children in Milledgeville needed a positive role model from their community and stated that his niece said that she “never really had a role model to look up to.”
Roberts explained that she then told him that she always saw him as a role model.
“I want to be a role model for the kids in my community. I want to show them that they can do whatever they want to do if they set their mind to it,” said Roberts. “I want to be a voice for children around the world.”
Roberts believes that his family and community have “not only helped shape who he has become” but have inspired him to help others realize that they are amazing too. That is why his book is titled You Are Amazing.
You Are Amazing has a message that anyone can understand if you work hard and have dedication, you can achieve your dreams. Roberts believes that “you can’t stop spreading positivity” and he hopes people will read this book and be motivated to achieve their goals. When speaking to the students, many stated that the book made them “want to be amazing” and “be good students.”
You Are Amazing is currently available on his website www. trustingjemazin43.com and on digital stores, such as Amazon. Roberts does plan to write a second book and is currently in production to write and publish, but no date was given. He hopes to have the book out soon and desires to read the book to more students, hopefully continuing to inspire them to reach their dreams.