Former NFL player Anthony Trucks and music producer Traxamillion spoke in a panel at De Anza College April 30, discussing the hurdles African Americans face after college.

Participants of the Life Beyond College event provided anecdotes, cautionary tales and advice for De Anza students, staff and faculty.

The panel featured members of Brothers of Silicon Valley, a community program that organizes charity events throughout the year.

The men shared their post-college and post-high school experiences with the audience.

Panel members who do not have college degrees told stories of rejection and exclusion in the workforce.

“I can teach someone to do a job; I have the experience,” said Dante Sadler, an entrepreneur.

“But I won’t get the job because I don’t have a degree.” Panel members with college degrees told stories of disappointment and realization of their true passions.

La Roddric C. Theodule, a math teacher at Bellarmine College Preparatory, said he believed a job on Wall Street was what he wanted until discovering his passion for educating students.

Lewis Vines, a licensed contractor with a bachelor’s degree in political science, found himself back at square one soon after graduating college.

“After I graduated and had my degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do,” Vines said.

Odd turns in careers were common among the panelists, including Trucks.

“The NFL stands for: ‘Not For Long,’” said Trucks, who is now a published author, public speaker and consultant.

The panelists discussed issues facing minority communities in the U.S. and offered advice on how to overcome those challenges.
Event coordinator, Pauline Wethington, said the event was successful because those who attended listened and learned from the panel.

As a message to his 17-year- old self, and young African-American males in general, music producer Traxamillion said “Stay your ass in school and leave them girls alone.”