New York Giants Wide Receiver Calvin Austin III recently visited Baptist Health Sciences University to encourage students, faculty and staff to pair their natural talent with discipline and self‑control.
Austin, who is a native Memphian, reflected on the challenges he faced on the path to the NFL, stressing that talent alone is not enough. He told the audience that discipline and self‑control are essential to reaching one’s goals, noting that distractions and competing pressures are constant.
Director of Faith Integration and Services Rusty Woods, who introduced Austin, explained why his message resonates beyond athletics. Although athletics and health care are different vocations, the principles of discipline and self‑control apply across professions. Woods wanted students, faculty and staff to hear about the personal development that helped Austin succeed and hoped his testimony would be a blessing to the campus community.
Austin emphasized the importance of commitment to a team and to one’s responsibilities. He reminded listeners that even on off days, maintaining discipline and returning to the right habits is crucial. He drew a parallel to health care work, where professionals experience both good and difficult days but must remember what brought them to their calling.
The chapel talk underscored how spiritual conviction and practical discipline work together to sustain long‑term success.
