Acalanes students were honored to hear from Terrell Owens at a moment when their own stories are just beginning. Listening to the journeys of athletes and anyone willing to share their path matters because it reminds us that success is never just about talent or titles. It’s about the choices made behind the scenes, the mindset developed through adversity, and the inner drive that separates being good from becoming excellent.
Honoring Resilience: Terrell Owens at Acalanes
Welcoming Terrell Owens to Acalanes during Black History Month made this experience even more meaningful. Black History Month is a time not only to honor achievement, but to uplift lived experiences, resilience, and voices that have helped shape our culture, our communities, and our understanding of leadership. Hearing T.O.’s story firsthand allowed students to connect history to the present, seeing how perseverance, identity, and purpose continue to influence success today.
Terrell Owens, also known as “T.O.,” is a former NFL wide receiver who played 15 seasons at the highest level, suiting up for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers. Considered one of the greatest wide receivers of all time, Owens ranks third in NFL history in both receiving touchdowns and receiving yards. A six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, he remains in the top five across multiple receiving categories.
Tears were shared, parent to parent, heart to heart.
Before T.O. ever took the stage, he spent quiet, meaningful time with Amin Norozzi’s family. He shared that he knew Amin’s story and had taken the time to watch the 19-minute, 29-second Amin video not as a Hall of Famer, but as a parent. In that moment, T.O. connected deeply with Ofelia and Payman, not through football, but through shared love, loss, and understanding of a child. He held Amin’s helmet for a long time, embracing it with care and reverence. Tears were shared, parent to parent, heart to heart.
Those same tears were present when T.O. began speaking to the Dons. He opened his talk by honoring Amin, reminding the Dons that Amin was more than an athlete; he was a very good, good person, a son, a brother, a teammate, and a valued member of the undefeated Acalanes football season. T.O. told the Dons, “Amin is here. He will always be with you.” He challenged the Dons to carry Amin’s goodness beyond the halls of Acalanes into how they lead, how they treat others, and how they show up for the world.
Doors of Opportunity with Desire, Dedication & Discipline.
On Friday, Acalanes welcomed Terrell Owens for a powerful conversation about facing obstacles, enduring setbacks, and finding breakthrough moments. Behind his NFL success, T.O. shared the story of how his mother and grandmother, two unwavering role models, instilled in him the hard work, strength, and resilience to keep going in anything you do. With raw honesty, he spoke about the struggle to stay true to himself and believe in his worth, even when others didn’t.
However, Owens’ journey to greatness wasn’t without its hurdles. His grandmother initially forbade him from playing sports until high school, worried about the dangers. But once he got to Benjamin Russell High School, Owens made his mark in multiple sports: football, baseball, track, and basketball. His football career began with modest beginnings; it was “pretty OK” in his small town, and he didn’t even start on the team until his junior year, when a teammate missed a game due to illness.
When he went to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the NFL wasn’t on his radar. Owens walked on to the football team and even tried out for the basketball team, just because he could. The path wasn’t easy, but he was driven by an inner desire, determination, and discipline that kept pushing him through every door, even when they didn’t seem open. Each step was fueled by the belief that with commitment, the impossible could become possible.
As students look beyond high school, T.O.’s words hit home: your path isn’t defined by these halls or fields. It continues: through college, careers, family, and wherever life leads you. Seek out mentors who not only believe in you but who lift you when you can’t lift yourself. They’ll help you see what you’re capable of long before you do. The right guidance, the right support, can change everything as you create a future that’s all your own.
Students engaged in an open Q&A, asking everything from defining football moments and coaching relationships to life beyond the field and Dancing with the Stars. The conversation was a reminder that success isn’t one-dimensional; it’s about growth, resilience, and the courage to reinvent yourself.
Terrell Owens shared more than a message; he shared a mindset built on three pillars:
Desire. Dedication. Discipline.
Desire to want more for yourself.
Dedication to show up consistently, even when it’s hard.
Discipline to stay committed when no one’s watching.
His words reminded us that your story doesn’t start someday, it starts here. Now. And the most powerful takeaway of all: you are the captain of your story. Whether in sports, academics, on a stage, or simply showing up for your family and friends, leadership begins when you take ownership and commit fully.
Greatness isn’t just talent.
It’s choice.
It’s belief.
It’s discipline.
And it’s honoring the journey long after the spotlight fades.
Your path is yours to write.
Lead it with purpose.
Lead it with heart.
