U.S. Olympian encourages Macon students to follow dreams, express emotions

At L.H. Williams Elementary School in Macon, a room of students sat cross-legged Friday afternoon surrounded by shelves of books, their hands shooting into the air as Olympian Jessica Ramsey asked what they want to be when they grow up.

“I want to be an artist.”

“I want to be a ballerina.”

“I want to be an alien.”

For the many responses centered on sports, Ramsey urged them to try different activities and not limit themselves as they discover what they enjoy and do well.

But her most important advice for the bright-eyed batch focused on emotional expression.

“My thing is for you all to understand that you are seen, you are loved, and you are heard,” Ramsey said. “So anytime you’re going through anything, or feeling upset, you need to express yourself.”

The Bibb County School District visit was part of a Middle Georgia mini-book tour for the American shot putter’s recently published children’s book, “Feelings Without Words: A Child’s Guide to Expression.” The book encourages children to recognize their emotions and express them in healthy ways through words or actions rather than internalizing them.

The first-time author said the book draws from her experience as a new mother to her two-year-old daughter, Sheaven, and her commitment to understanding her child as they grow together.

“When I did get pregnant, I didn’t know what type of mother I’d be,” Ramsey told The Telegraph. “Will we connect? Will I be able to understand her? I think I took those thoughts and put them into the book to let her know that I’m here. I see you.”

One page reflects a real moment in Ramsey’s life, when her daughter had a meltdown at the park as it was time to leave.

“I was ready to go, but she wasn’t,” Ramsey said. “She didn’t know how to say, ‘Mom, I’m not ready to go.’ So, she caught a fit.”

The story shows both a child’s perspective and a parent’s path to patience, serving as a reminder for parents to show empathy and avoid immediate frustration as children learn to express themselves, she added.

Ramsey said she hopes families take away a simple message from the book: the importance of self-expression, self-worth and communication.

“For the parents, be there through it all,” she said. “Try to understand your kids. Don’t make them feel less than what they are. For the kids, trust your parents, and find ways to express yourself.”

“Feelings Without Words: A Child’s Guide to Expression” is available for purchase on Amazon.

More than a book

Ramsey said the trip to Middle Georgia, along with her personal story, carries a broader message about identity and opportunities for youth.

“I just want to be able to reach kids,” the Florida native said.

Ramsey, 34, qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after setting a U.S. Olympic Trials Championships record in 2021. She won the women’s shot put with a throw of 20.12 meters (66 feet).

But she said she is equally committed to mentoring at-risk youth, citing her volunteer work with Court Appointed Special Advocates in Mississippi, a national organization that advocates for neglected children, and her desire to be a listening ear for young people.

Friday morning, Ramsey kicked off her Middle Georgia tour at Westside High School — a federally identified school in Macon with at least one student group performing among the lowest in the state.

Ramsey said her visit to the Bibb County School District was inspired largely by Julia Daniely, the district’s former director of personalized learning and alternative education, their shared struggles in school, and a belief that students who learn at different paces need encouragement, not judgment.

“I didn’t like school, and I didn’t feel like school resonated with me just because it took me longer than most kids,” Ramsey said.

“I think Ms. Julia has some kids that may be going through the same thing, so she put the idea out there that I can come encourage them, and let them know that things may take time, but you’ll get there, as long as you don’t give up,” she added.

While she has participated in sports since middle school, Ramsey also encourages students to have a backup plan outside athletics and possibly pursue other avenues.

“A lot of kids and people that I’ve been around, [their] lives have just been around sports, and then if it doesn’t work out their way, they go into depression, or they don’t know what to do in life,” said Ramsey, who is also an assistant manager at an Insomnia Cookies store, an assistant track coach and has considered becoming a juvenile parole officer.

Now preparing for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Ramsey balances motherhood, weight training and work.

She said more books may be in the works.

This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 5:03 PM.