This is an I-Heart podcast.

This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories,

the show where America is the star and the American people.

And we'd love to hear your story. Send them to Our American Stories.com.

Up next a story from Kevin Sammy, the son of Indian American immigrants who appeared in Forbes

30 Under 30 for Law and policy in 2016.

Today, Kevin shares with us the story of his family's love for the sport he played,

football, and why they valued his education so much.

Take it away, Kevin.

You know, I grew up in Canton, Ohio.

I am first-generation Indian American. So my mom and dad, they emigrated

from rural South India. My dad came to the United States to do his doctorate. He ended up moving to Ohio

to work at a company as an engineer. And that's where I was born. And I had what I believe is a pretty

archetypal Midwest upbringing in a lot of ways. I played football in high school and I ended up playing in college too. I don't think I would have, if not for the fact that I grew up so close to the Hall of Fame and the culture there was so deeply steeped in football. I didn't know I would be as good as I was. Playing in college is difficult to do,

and I say that to give credit to everyone who makes it to Division I ball. You know, my parents,

they really wanted to learn the game after I became interested in it, after I started to do well,

and I got looks from colleges. I was, you know, all state for two years in the state of Ohio,

which is a, you know, known state for two years in the state of Ohio, which is a,

you know, known for good football. It went from me trying my hand in it to there would be

Indian families that would come from different parts of the state and around the region

who'd come watch my high school games just as a function of being now interested in this game.

They didn't have any other reason to be, let's say, before.

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