On Tuesday, March 3, Davie High senior Xavier Parker signed with the University of the Cumberlands in front of family members, friends, teammates, coaches, and teachers who have seen him develop into the young man he is today. There was an overwhelming sense of pride in the room, based not only on sports accomplishments but also on strength, virtues, and the long journey Parker had endured to get to where he is now.
Among those who celebrated his achievement was English teacher Jessica Grubb, who taught Parker during his freshman year. Grubb has watched Parker face adversities throughout high school that most students don’t have to endure.
“He’s been through a lot; I think everybody knows that,” Grubb said. ““He’s still kind of the same shy, introverted kid, but I’m starting to see a lot more of him believing in himself, which is nice, because there were a lot of people here who always believed in him, but now I think he’s finally grasping how to believe in himself too.”
It’s one thing to be a good player, but it’s even better to be a good person. Grubb herself noticed the extent of Parker’s character early on.
“He has a really big heart,” Grubb said. “Because he’s been through so much adversity, he tries to never cause anyone else stress. He’s a hard worker, he’s empathetic… the list goes on. His heart is the big driving factor.”
Choosing a college can be a daunting task for any high school student wanting to pursue a collegiate athletic career. The task of finding a school with a likeable coach, a nice campus, and a team where the dynamic fits. Yet for Parker, this task was slightly different than others.
“It was the only place that recruited me,” Parker said with a chuckle. “So it’s kind of where I’m sticking at. The team’s really big on like, camaraderie, they’re all really nice and welcoming.”
Playing at the college level was Parker’s dream since the day he stepped out on the field, though the road to get there was not always an easy one.
“It was my goal, and then sophomore year I hit a rough patch and wanted to quit,” Parker said. “But it’s been my goal, and I’m glad I achieved it.”
Facing adversity was not easy, yet having the support of his community helped him push through and achieve his goal.
“My biggest supporters were probably the Welch family or my teammates,” Parker said. “Teachers were standing by me outside of school, in the classroom, just supporting me and being there for me.”
As Parker put pen to paper, the room applauded him not only for the athlete he had become, but also for the person he had become. Cumberlands was gaining a loyal player, but Davie was losing something far more valuable: a young man who had overcome adversity with humility and grace and had touched the lives of all those around him.
“He’s really the best,” Grubb reiterated. “He’s really the best.”
