Leslie Goodrum

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@SeeingScarlet_ Way to go Lady Raiders!

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Way to Marissa! OYB! 💜🐶

[MHS Tennis Team @MidlandHigh10S]

Stewart in the semi finals! Marisa pulls off the win against Liberty Benfield of Vandergrift 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. We fight on to day 2! #state #oyb @AthleticsMISD

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@SkylerHoward0 @Ty_Thurmond Padilla is not my favorite ref! Makes you wonder if he's got money 💰 on the game!

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@JarrettDRamirez Amazing Red Raider!

[Jarrett Ramirez @JarrettDRamirez]

A message from #TexasTech’s JT Toppin on Instagram:

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Love this story! Take note !

[Sheila of the Most High @sheilatebra]

Just thought it was kind to share this! 😭❤

I'm a substitute teacher. Different school every week. Kids never remember your name. You're just "the sub."
Last year, I got assigned to a rough middle school. 8th grade English. The regular teacher left a note: "Good luck with Marcus. Sits in the back. Won't participate. Don't push it."
First day, I spot Marcus immediately. Hood up, headphones in, head down on the desk.
I didn't call him out. Just started class.
Halfway through, I'm reading a poem about loneliness. I see his head lift slightly. He's listening.
After class, everyone leaves. Marcus stays behind, packing slowly.
"You actually like poetry?" I ask.
He shrugs. "It's whatever."
"That poem I read—Langston Hughes. You know his stuff?"
"A little." He pauses. "My mom used to read it to me."
"Used to?"
"She died two years ago. Cancer."
My heart sank. "I'm so sorry, Marcus."
He shrugged again, but I could see his jaw tighten. "It's fine. Everyone says that."
"What if instead of saying sorry, I just... brought more poems tomorrow? We could talk about them if you want."
He didn't answer. Just walked out.
But the next day, he came to class early. Sat in the front. No hood. No headphones.
For the next two weeks (I extended my assignment), Marcus and I had this routine. After class, we'd spend 15 minutes talking about poetry, life, grief.
He told me about his mom. How she worked two jobs but still made time to read to him every night. How the house felt empty without her voice. How his dad tried but didn't really know how to talk about feelings.
"She'd want you to keep going," I said one day. "Keep reading. Keep feeling. That's how you keep her alive."
On my last day, Marcus handed me a folded piece of paper.
"I wrote something," he mumbled. "You don't have to read it now."
I waited until I got to my car. Unfolded it. It was a poem. About his mom. About loss. About learning to breathe again.
It was beautiful. Raw. Real.
I drove back into the school. Found him in the hallway.
"Marcus, this is incredible. Have you shown this to anyone?"
"No. It's stupid."
"It's not. It's powerful. You have a gift."
He looked at me like I'd just told him he could fly.
I helped him submit it to a youth poetry contest. Didn't tell him.
Three months later, I got an email. Marcus won second place. $500 prize and publication in a national magazine.
I texted his dad (got the number from the school). He called me crying.
"He hasn't smiled in two years. He's smiling now."
Sometimes all someone needs is to be seen. To be heard. To be told their pain matters.

"I hope this story reminds you that good people still exist.

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@SkylerHoward0 Get a W in West Virginia!

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Way to fight for the victory tonight BYU!

[Big 12 Conference @Big12Conference]

Kalani Sitake gets the Pop-Tart bath (and a quick snack) as @BYUfootball claims the 2025 @PopTartsBowl 😂

#Big12FB | @BYUfootball

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Wreck em! Love these Red Raiders!

[Texas Tech Basketball @TexasTechMBB]

RETWEET IF YOU LOVE THIS TEAM ‼️

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Go vote for Austin McNamara for NFL Pro Bowl!

[Joey McGuire 🌵 @JoeyMcGuireTTU]

Here we go Red Raider Nation!!! Lets get our very own @aust_31 in the Pro Bowl #ProBowlVote #WreckEm

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@nyjets @TexasTechFB Red Raider Nation is super proud of you ! ❤️🖤

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Prayers for continued Rehab success! Stay focused and continue your positive impact on the team!

[Skyler Gill-Howard @SkylerHoward0]

Bored in the training room…. Me and WHEELS are doing great just in case anyone was wondering. 👆🏾

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@SkylerHoward0 @Will_Hammond13 Prayers for continued Rehab success! Stay focused and continue your positive impact on the team!

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@HeismanTrophy I want to vote for #JacobRodriguez

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Great explanation! Love TTU❤️

[Shehan Jeyarajah @ShehanJeyarajah]

A lot of people have asked why Texas Tech fans rushed the field after the game, even though they were favored.

I wanted to explain why.

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Such an amazing Red Raider! What an impact he's making on our team !

[Emily Wisniewski @sportsemilyw]

Everyone’s favorite hype man made it to Raiderville tonight 🤝

Skyler Gill-Howard led everyone in a prayer before a worship service started

@KLBKsports | @TexasTechFB

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@HeismanTrophy I want to vote for #JacobRodriguez

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

@CoachEReinhart Awesome 🏈🧡

[Leslie Goodrum @GoodrumLeslie]

Need tickets to the BYU game? Here's your chance ! @kaelie04

[Double T 97-3 🌵 @DoubleT973]

🚨 🚨 Texas Tech Football Ticket Giveaway 🚨 🚨

Want to go to the Texas Tech vs. BYU game on November 8? Here’s what you have to do to be entered for your chance to win 4 tickets:

1. Follow @DoubleT973
2. Retweet this post
3. Tag a Texas Tech friend in the comments

Winner will be drawn and announced on Friday, November 7. Good Luck and Guns Up!