During ESPN’s First Take appearance at Delaware State University, Michaela Acheampong, a freshman Mass Communications major from Newark, Delaware, and Howard High School of Technology graduate, stood up and asked one of the most memorable questions of the day.
View this post on Instagram
Michaela, who also hosts @TheeGreatPodcast, confidently asked:
“All right, Mr. Smith, can you tell me about the beginning stages of getting your own show outside of your day job at First Take? And if you started in media today, what would your approach be like?”
Her question opened the door for veteran sports journalist Stephen A. Smith to deliver one of his most honest and passionate messages of the day, a message not just for Delaware State students, but for young people everywhere.
Smith said he’s deeply concerned about how today’s generation approaches success in an era where everyone has access to a platform and a voice online.
“All of us, me included, were hard-headed as kids. We all thought we knew better than those who came before us,” Smith said. “But because of the world we live in now, where everybody has a voice, that hard-headedness has materialized into disrespect.”
He went on to explain that many young people today are quick to ignore advice from those with real experience, the very people trying to help them avoid the same mistakes.
“Too many youngsters don’t want to listen to experienced hands that have been through it,” he continued. “All we’re trying to do is show you where the minefields are, so you can avoid them exploding in your face.”
Smith’s powerful answer became one of the standout moments of the event, and Michaela’s confident question showed the initiative, preparation, and presence that define the next generation of HBCU media leaders.
While Stephen A.’s message was tough love, it resonated as truth: respect and humility are still the foundation of growth.
