Often seemingly small moments in someone’s life can have major impacts down the road.

For James LeGette, a 2024 graduate of the Bachelor of General Studies program offered by Temple University University College, it was taking a class for which he initially had no interest.

“When I was a senior in high school, there was a child development class that a lot of my friends we planning to take, but I wasn’t particularly interested in it at the time. They did, however, convince me to take the class with them,” he said. “I was paired with a boy with selective mutism. We created a bond to the point where he would only talk to me in the class. That connection is what made me decide that summer that I wanted to be a camp counselor so that I might have the opportunity to help other kids.”

For one of the young campers, LeGette was the person that helped him tie his shoes for the first time. 

“That might seem like something very minor but for him, that was the biggest deal in the world. That one interaction put me over the moon,” he said. “I decided “this is what I’m good at, this is what I want to do with my life.’”

The following school year, LeGette said, “I started pursuing various jobs where I could be in a school or after-care setting.”

“That ultimately led me to becoming a paraprofessional working with children that needed emotional support, and I absolutely loved it,” he said. “Like any teacher, you are going to have your good days and your hard days, but for me it was always about the students at the end of the day, because I really wanted them to succeed.”

LeGette has been an integral part of the Philadelphia-area community for many years giving back in all aspects inside and outside of his career. Following graduation from the Bachelor of General Studies program this year, he began teaching in grades 1 through 5 in the Bristol Township School District.

Prior to joining the staff in Bristol Township, LeGette was a paraprofessional with the Neshaminy School District, assisting students with learning differences under the direction of a certified teacher. He has also been a Camp Manager at the Newtown Athletic Club, an Assistant Supervisor and Dancer at Sesame Place, a coach at Dynamix Gymnastics, an Assistant Group Supervisor and Camp Coordinator at Fairless Hills YMCA and “a proud big brother for the Big Brother Big Sisters program.”

“I love giving back to the Philadelphia community; volunteering for the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program has meant so much to me. Through the mentoring program, I’m able to provide my ‘little brother’ guidance with things that maybe I struggled with as well — to help them navigate through challenges and difficult situations,” he said. “I went into the program thinking that maybe I was going to change their lives. I didn't know that they were going to change mine — I learned so much about myself through the program.”

 If LeGette seems familiar, you’ve probably been inspired by his indomitable spirit. You’ve probably seen him on the sidelines at Lincoln Financial Field cheering the Philadelphia Eagles on the road to victory! He became a member of the Eagles Cheerleading Squad in 2021.

“Back in 2020, I auditioned for the Eagles Cheerleading Squad after I saw an ad on Instagram. I wanted to try out after seeing Kyle Tanguay, someone who I looked up to, make the squad in 2019,” said LeGette, who is also a former member of the Temple Gymnastics team. “I was going to Bucks County Community College at the time. Because of COVID, the auditions were all online. I managed to make it to the last round but didn’t get selected that year.”

In 2021, LeGette said, he thought about trying out again, “but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to just yet.”

“I had a few people convince me to try it one more time, because you never know what's going to happen,” he said. “I realized that good things come when you wait and I'm glad I waited because I made it that second time I tried out.”

According to LeGette, his cheerleading days began all the way back in middle school on a dare from a couple of friends — another small moment in a rich history of giving back to a community he loves.

“I did it and fell in love with cheerleading and really fell in love with dance and the performing arts world,” he said. “I think back, and I have to thank my friends, because I might not be where I am today without that dare.”

LeGette said he began his time at Temple as a special education major, Pre-K to grade 12.

“I was originally expected to graduate in 2025 but after being in various types of classrooms over the years, I had enough credits to graduate earlier than that through the Bachelor of General Studies program with the intention of starting teaching the following semester to get my teaching intern certification,” he said. “The faculty and staff that oversee the BGS program made it a flawless transition. They consistently gave me as much time and attention as I needed and answered any questions I had.”

LeGette said the diversity of the students in the BGS program — people from different backgrounds entering the program at so many different times in their life and for different reasons and goals — was a valuable learning opportunity in its own right.

“You never know who you are going to meet and what they can teach you — it’s one of the reasons I’m in the field I’m in today,” he said. “Being able to meet so many different people from so many different backgrounds is amazing, because there are so many things that they can share with you that you might not experience otherwise.”

LeGette’s goal, he said, “has always been to teach in emotional support classrooms, so I can help students develop the skills to regulate their emotions.”

“One of main things I love to do is work with children who are differently abled,” he said. “I love being able to give back and show them different techniques and strategies that will help them in overcoming any challenges. My goal is to help them succeed in society.”

LeGette ultimately wants to be in front of his own classroom, “to have that feeling of success and fulfilling my dream of helping and mentoring students.”

“I've been pushing through and trying my best to get to where I am today. I'm now a part of two honors societies, which I never thought I’d ever be able to do,” he said. “I never saw myself as the best student in high school, but the second I got to Temple I knew that needed to change. I've learned so much about myself and what I want to do with my life in getting to this point.”

LeGette said his students were his motivator to get the most out of his Temple experience.

“I’d tell them ‘Listen, I understand that you don't want to do this. I'm in school myself, but I'm pushing. I just need you to push too. We can do this together.’ I was a first-generation college graduate,” he said. I didn’t only do it for myself. I did it for my students. I did it for my family. I did it for my mom, who tried to get through college, but never was able to finish. I did it for my sister.”

Today, LeGette said, “I am able to help people see that if you just keep pushing through you can do it too.”

“I want to be able to encourage and uplift students in my community no matter where that is — as long as I’m able to help people, I will feel like I’m being as successful as I ever wanted to be,” he said. “My advice to anyone is to just keep pushing because the finish line is never that far away.”

The Bachelor of General Studies is designed for learners with prior college and at least sixty transferable credits who are ready to complete their undergraduate degree. The 120-credit bachelor’s program focuses on creating a solid foundation for a wide variety of careers and it allows students the opportunity to customize their degree path. Learn more about the Bachelor of General Studies here.