The Penn Stater Magazine

John Amaechi Meets the President

June 9, 2016 at 1:12 pm Bill DiFilippo 2 comments

Barack Obama held a town hall meeting in London in April. Among those in attendance was John Amaechi ’94. As he explained in a blog post, Amaechi was invited to the event by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Several minutes into the event, Amaechi was pulled aside by an aide because the President wanted to meet with him once the town hall ended. He watched Obama speak, then was led into a side room with a handful of celebrities.

Amaechi recalls extending his hand to Obama, receiving a hug, discussing his work as a psychologist, and getting praised for his efforts in helping the world make “huge leaps in the area of inclusion.”

He ended his post by reflecting on his meeting with the President.

I talk to leaders about how they must consider themselves giants whose whispers are shouts, for whom the impact of every action is magnified and who, by merely standing, can cast a great shadow.  I think perhaps the greatest compliment I can make of my meeting with President Obama is that while I am a man who considers myself a giant; I stood in the shadow of a greater giant and only felt brighter – and taller – for the experience.

Amaechi is no stranger to meeting politicians, as he’s received the Freedom of the City of London and is a member of the Order of the British Empire.

Bill DiFilippo, online editor

Entry filed under: Athletics. Tags: Barack Obama, John Amaechi.