Laurent Duvernay-Tardif played professional football in the NFL for nine seasons. He even won the Super Bowl in 2020. Meanwhile, he was pursuing his medical degree! His secret? Perseverance ! He has also been the spokesperson for School Perseverance Days for six years. I talked to him !
What kind of student were you in elementary school?
I have always been a very… alert student, let’s say. This had positive and negative sides. Positive because I asked a lot of questions, I was curious, I had a lot of energy. But at other times, I was seen as a turbulent student. I needed attention. It wasn’t realistic to have 32 students like me in a class!
Were there any subjects you weren’t good at?
French was a challenge for me, and it became more pronounced in high school. I have cast a lot of written productions.
How did you improve?
I realized that my difficulties were linked to a lack of attention to detail. When I was writing, I neglected to reread myself. I understood my weaknesses and focused on what I could improve.
Did any teachers help you?
Yes ! I remember Mr. Leduc’s advice: “Laurent, choose your battles!” » He meant that I should channel my energy into something positive. It had an impact on me.
Do you have any tips to motivate yourself and persevere?
My thing is to compartmentalize. One thing at a time. You don’t need to study all the time to succeed. You need to study concentratedly several times a week. In medicine, it’s demanding, but I never studied for more than an hour at a time. I exercised and came back with greater clarity of mind.
Laurent’s predictions for the Super Bowl
Tomorrow, February 11, the Super Bowl will pit the San Francisco 49ers against the Kansas City Chiefs (Laurent’s former team!). What are his predictions? “Obviously, with seven years with the Chiefs, I would love to see my teammates achieve victory! Plus, it’s my birthday, February 11th! »
Caroline Bouffard, The Aces of Info
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