No Payne, No Gain
By Jose Valle
He is not the typical student-athlete. During the fall season, Andre’ Payne, 17, is a wide receiver for Panther Creek High School’s football team in Cary, N.C. In the winter, he is a guard on his community’s recreational basketball team. When that is done, he sprints in the 100- and 200-meter dashes on the men’s track team. And year-round, he sings in the school’s chamber choir.
“Most people perceive me simply as the athletic type but I’m more than that,” Andre’ said. “I believe that having different skills allows me to become a more well-rounded person.”
His singing separates him from some of his teammates, but also helps him develop a deeper bond with them.
“Whether we’re in chorus or not, we all sing,” Andre’ said. “We’re all brothers. We’re all teammates. We all love each other.”
These bonds, along with a hunger for success, motivate Andre’ to always work hard. While he dedicates most of his time to his football interest he also attends camps and volunteers on his little brother’s football team.
“I put in hard work day in and day out,” Andre’ said. “Football takes up literally all of my summer and I just hope it pays off in the end.”
His passion for football and sports helped develop his deep interest in sports broadcasting. This interest in broadcast motivated him and a friend to start the JT and Andre’ Show, a comedic interview web show. The show started as an experimental extension of his school’s newspaper then grew into something larger.
“Over time, it kept building and building, it got better and better,” Andre’ said. “Our friends started telling people about it and it grew into a big thing.”
With more publicity came more experience. It is this experience that he hopes will help him achieve his dreams.
“I see myself as being a broadcaster on SportsCenter, being in front of the camera, doing what I love to do,” Andre’ said. “My show has given me the opportunity to experience being in front of the camera I know that will more than help me in college.”
Success also follows him into the classroom. Though Andre’ dislikes science courses, he excels in those related to history.
“Before I wanted to be a broadcaster, I wanted to be a historian,” Andre’ said. “I just really like learning about people’s stories and how those people managed to make history themselves.”
This curiosity also helped him realize his love for broadcast. Looking forward, he plans to work his way up in the broadcasting world and hopes to one day make history himself.
“I know I’ll probably have to start off small out of college in order to get on ESPN if I do continue to be a broadcaster,” Andre’ said. “I’m willing to start small and work my way up. After all, it’s only with the journey and the experience that I’ll be able to become something great.”