Boilermaker Feature
MACARTHY LIVES TO HELP OTHERS
By Matthew Staudt
Note: This feature ran in the Purdue gameday program for the Sept. 20 game against Southern Illinois.
Growing up as the youngest with eight brothers and sisters, Dolapo Macarthy learned the importance of helping others from the very beginning, and he has carried that with him into his everyday life.
Macarthy, a tight end for the Boilermakers, was born in Chicago with three older half siblings on his mom's side, three on his dad's side and two biological older brothers. His family descends from Lagos, Nigeria, so Macarthy grew up speaking mainly Yoruba (pronounced your-ROBE-uh) and only learned English in grammar school. He was immersed in two very different cultures, but had one common understanding: care for and look after others.
That is how Macarthy tries to live his life today.
While the football team volunteers in the community several times a year, that isn't enough for the fifth-year senior. Macarthy goes out of his way, sometimes on his own dime, to give back to others across the globe.
In his free time, Macarthy is heavily involved in Purdue's Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization for Boilermaker student-athletes that meets on Monday nights to discuss their common faith and volunteer for numerous projects, including mission trips to other countries.
"I've been involved with it since my freshman year, and (athletics chaplain) Marty Dittmar has had a huge impact on my life," Macarthy says of FCA. "You hear about how great and wonderful the trips are and what an impact you can make on people, and I wanted to be part of that. It's a life-changing experience."
Last spring break, in the midst of football practice, Macarthy decided he wanted to go to the Bethesda Outreach Orphanage in South Africa with teammates Sean Robinson and Frankie Williams. The trip wasn't free, though, so he had to put in hard work around class and practice to even be able to offer his help. Macarthy was proactive, calling churches, writing letters to relatives and friends, and asking for donations from people far and wide.
Eventually, he raised the money to make the trip.
"I was there for a week, and it was the best experience I've ever had in my life," Macarthy says. "The kids ended up changing my life because they made me realize how thankful and grateful I should be for everything I have: food, water, clothing, let alone playing a Division I sport and getting the shoes and gear that we get. We really have it made here. Those people don't have anything. They wear the same shirts every day, but they are just so happy to be alive, and that really changed my life."
The kids learned plenty and enjoyed their time with Macarthy, too. Though he hasn't had the opportunity to keep in touch as much as he would like, Macarthy often hears that the kids are asking about him through Dittmar. It is the impression he left on the kids that really makes him feel that the trip was worthwhile.
Macarthy credits his parents and his faith for making him the man he is today. While many college athletes want more for themselves and are rarely concerned with anything else off the field, this 23-year old keeps his focus on what he can control and what he can do to make those around him better.
"My parents did a great job of helping me understand that my purpose is to be a servant to Christ and others," Macarthy says. "That's my No. 1 goal in life, above football and everything else, that is what's most important to me. That is what I strive to do every day - just make sure I am grounded in my faith and working to be a servant for others."
While Macarthy would love to continue playing football as long as he can, his main focus after graduation is being able to provide for his family and help those around him. He isn't worried about how many snaps he plays or how many balls he catches, though he would love big numbers. He's simply concerned with being there for others whenever he can.
Macarthy is a man with a clear, selfless vision - help those around him, just as his parents and siblings did. And that's a pretty good trait to have in any culture or locker room.