Clarke Central High School 2012 graduate, a former ODYSSEY Media Group staff member, Andre Robinson stands with the 2016-17 OMG staff on April 23, 2017 after delivering a workshop on digital storytelling. Robinson is grateful for the effects that ODYSSEY adviser David Ragsdale has had on his life. “I have always been a fan of written work and there across the lunch table was a magazine called ODYSSEY Magazine. I did not read any of the articles, but I liked the pictures. I went to talk to (Ragsdale) and asked him what I needed to do. I felt like I needed to be somewhere and I wanted to challenge myself,” Robinson said. “I am so appreciative of (Ragsdale) because he recognized there is a gift and a talent in young people. All they gotta do is just care a little bit and (Ragsdale) was the first person to really help me get to where I am.” Photo by David Ragsdale
Clarke Clarke High School 2012 graduate Andre Robinson talks about his journey to working for the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team and being named a member of Front Office sports Rising 25.
Sports Writer AJ Carr: Can you please describe your experience here at Clarke Central High School?
Los Angeles Clippers producer Andre Robinson: I feel like Clarke Central is a place where I came and I started developing the understanding of I wanted to be somebody. High school kick starts your social skills because you experience a lot of different things as far as to help you mature. It’s your first time falling in love, it’s your first time driving a car and you experience a lot of growing up in high school. It was a learning experience 100% and it molds who you are. It molded me from the teachers that I have dealt with. You have a lot of times when you get out of college and you look back at things and think, ‘If I would’ve started this in high school?’ It sets everyone on their footnote to the career they want to do.
AC: What was it like when you decided to transfer from South Carolina State to Clemson University?
AR: That decision was based off of where I felt like my life should be going at the moment. You quickly identify what places can help you do what. It is based off of resources because you would not go get certain products from store that doesn’t specialize in those products, such as you would not go get bread from a Home Depot. I felt like where I needed to be I needed a platform like Clemson Football to kick start my video career or anything I wanted to get. I wanted to tackle the big fish and I wanted to show my talent on a different display. When I got to Clemson (as a student) and (worked for the) Clemson football at the time I knew people in South Carolina would care. It was the perfect type of relationship because they are winning games and won the National Championship during my time. It was definitely catching the right wave, catching the right moment and being faithful in your gifts and abilities that you will land the right opportunity.
Andre Robinson poses for a picture at the OMG Booster Club’s annual “Not So Silent Night” auction in December 2011.
AC: Can you describe working for one of the premier college football programs at Ohio State and transforming their social media?
AR: I felt like that was a precarious period of time. My grandma just passed away and she was the lady that raised me for the first eight years of my life. She was the strongest woman in our family. Leaving the South and going to a place like Ohio State, I felt like I had to show appreciation to my grandmother by going so hard at Ohio State. This is a big job and a big-time opportunity, but I just used the courage in the faith that to whom is given much is acquired. My grandma gave me a lot and I feel like in any situation I got to give it my all, no matter if I am not the most prepared at it. I just put my priorities first and just going to work, putting my head down. My best is good enough and that’s when you start building that confidence. When you are really passionate about it and all the hard work you see is on a great scale.
It’s just hard work, you are just locking in and not focusing on nothing else but what you gotta do for that day. It is you versus you 365 days. You are at war with yourself to make yourself better. As a young person, you just challenge yourself.
AC: What did you learn from working for Ohio State working with college football stars like J.T. Barrett and Parris Campbell?
AR: That you can run with the big dogs, man. You look at De’Shaun (Watson) texting me congrats on my award. JT (Barrett) texting me this morning. These dudes they respect the hustle because they know you are putting as much work as they are putting in. You are hanging out with Zeke (Elliot), Mike Thomas or Parris Campbell and you look at them and say, ‘Man, I aspire to be like that.’ These dudes are looking at me like, ‘I aspire to be like you.’ My homie J.K. Dobbins, he texted me yesterday and said, ‘Yo, you are my homie because you are always looking for a new opportunity to get better at your craft and it inspires me to get better at my craft.’ Everybody wants to be pushed, no matter what field you are in. I ain’t got to dribble a basketball or throw a football to motivate guys to be themselves. You do it and you are pushing each other no matter what you are doing. People will get behind you because they want to know your work ethic.
AC: What were the factors in making the decision to go to the Los Angeles Clippers instead of the University of Miami? When you chose the Clippers, what was it like working with NBA stars?
AR: Number one, that decision was based off of time. When Miami called, at the time, I felt like it would have been a cool thing on paper, but I felt like the challenges of LA of big-time programs. When you scope out a job, you list the pros and cons, there were more cons for Miami side and more pros on the LA Clippers’ side. Both opportunities were amazing opportunities, but I chose to better myself to come out to LA and see if I could run with the big dogs. It is so crazy how you don’t get starstruck. You look at them as human. You are walking beside LeBron James and you are walking beside Shaq (O’Neal) and you are at the same table as them. One of your good friends is Lou Williams and you are so confident in what you do you feel like the superstar athlete in your field. You’re looking at them like yes you all are great at what you do, but grind is grind and hustle is hustle. People respect that. It doesn’t matter about what you do, it just matters how passionate you are about it. That’s what people are gonna catch when they get to you.
Andre Robinson (Sports writer at the time) dances with former ODYSSEY Media Group Staff member and News Editor, Chloe Hargrave at the OMG Booster Club’s “Not So Silent Night” auction in December 2011.
AC: What does being named a member of Front Office Sport’s Rising 25 mean to you?
AR: It means that you are on the right track. There are times, as a young person, you get discouraged, like, “Man am I really making the moves I need to make? Could I be doing something better?” It is confirmation that you are moving at an upward pace. You matter to your family, but you inspire your mom to work harder at her job. You inspire your dad to go harder at his job. You got cousins that look up to you. You got high schoolers at Clarke Central looking up to you. We would not being doing this interview if there are certain things not to talk about. We can talk about how can we bring kids from Clarke Central to know that the opportunities, your gifts and talents are within you to show to the world. You can put it on a bigger scale, so you can be on the other side of this call. I have been on the side of your call, asking people questions about how they did it. Don’t get caught up in someone else’s story and try to emulate or copy it. Your story is your story. There will never be another you in this world. You just got to figure out how can I be the best that I could possibly be? Whether it is finding my niche, diving into it or being passionate about it.
Members of the 2011-2012 ODYSSEY Media Group staff pose for the annual staff photo. Andre Robinson (back row, second from left) attributes his time at Clarke Central for his success. “I feel like Clarke Central is a place where I came and I started developing the understanding of I wanted to be somebody,” Robinson said. “High School starts your social skills because you experience a lot of different things as far as to help you mature.”
