I remember in 9th grade history class, we had a
many lively discussions about historical figures. Mr. McNamara would challenge
me and my classmates on a continuing theme throughout the year. When we would
encounter a major historical figure, he would ask us: “Did this person make history or did history make this person?” Not having seen much
of the world at the in my rather ordinary 14 years on the planet, it was hard
for me to recognize who was a real difference maker, and who was merely in the
right place and right time.
But any teenager could tell you that this football season, Erin
DiMeglio is making history. She
is the first female to play quarterback for her high school team in the state
of Florida. And for anyone familiar with football in the Sunshine State, you
know that they come suiting up in the south is no cake walk. Teammates call her
a hard worker, and coaches and fans know that she is not taking any handouts on
her way to success on the gridiron.
Growing up in a country where the only legitimate option for
women to play professional televised football involves suiting up in a bra and panties, you would think DiMeglio might
opt for a sport that values women’s athletic talent, rather than merely their
physical appearance. But Erin obviously isn’t the type to have history make
her. She pursues what makes her happy, and that’s why she is the type that
makes history.
Erin DiMeglio is not trying to prove anything grand. She’s
not an advocate, not a politician, and the only agenda she has is the one that
she writes her homework in. She’s just a natural athlete, who loves football. She’s
not concerned so much with buzz words like “barriers to entry” or “trailblazer.”
She’s wanted to play the sport she loves, and now she is doing it. So while she
may be laying the foundations for generations of young girls, she is teaching
us something more universal, and no less significant: follow your dreams, and
have fun. DiMeglio is not only living a life that future women will be inspired
by, but one that inspires me as a fan, reader, and person.
Erin is making history the way most greats do: by doing what
feels natural, despite any sort of societal pressure that might discourage that
(keep in mind there are over 1 million boys playing HS football in America, and
700 girls). Like others, her legacy will be felt for generations, and people
will admire her courage. But DiMeglio enjoys an impact not all history-makers
enjoy: she’s changing the life of everyone who reads about her today.
