Author Kareem Rosser Shares Story of Resilience and Inspiration

Middle and Upper School students sat riveted during their assemblies with this year’s Dempsey Writer in Residence Kareem Rosser. Later that evening, the crowd gathered in the school’s auditorium was equally captivated by Rosser’s story of inspiration, resilience, and triumph. Students and adults alike were deeply engaged as he spoke of what motivated him through tremendous hardship and challenge.

A Philadelphia native and an SCH ECC parent, Kareem Rosser is an award-winning author of two memoirs, a polo champion at both the high school and collegiate levels, and a passionate philanthropist who has helped to raise $15M to build an indoor riding arena for the Work to Ride Program Chamonix Equestrian Center that, he says, quite literally saved his life. Both the assemblies and the evening lecture provided a glimpse into the life of a young boy for whom tragedy, drugs, and incarceration were an everyday part of the odds stacked against him. After explaining that he comes from "The Bottom," one of the poorest neighborhoods in West Philadelphia, and the feeling of escape he felt upon entering the barn, Rosser outlined the core beliefs that he has developed in his lifetime:

“Step through open doors—each one leads to new possibilities and greater opportunities.” 

In Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever, Rosser’s first memoir, documents what starts as an accidental discovery while riding his bike with his brother in Fairmount Park and turns into a passion for horses, riding, and polo. At the age of 18, he became part of the first all-Black national interscholastic polo championship team. “We never let the odds stacked against us discourage us,” Rosser said. “Even losing polo matches 32-0!”

"When you dare to dream and truly believe, the impossible becomes possible."

Rosser’s second memoir, When You’re Ready, provided him the opportunity to reflect on his journey and heal after the love of his life suffered a devastating riding accident. “In the space between debilitating grief and bursts of anxiety, he’s forced to finally face his demons: his tumultuous childhood, his latent mental health issues, the murders of his older brother and his best friend, and a life constantly lived in the grip of panic and fear.” (Simon & Schuster)

“Healing isn’t linear, but there’s always light—even in the darkest corners.”

Rosser is an inspiring example of someone in the SCH community who has led a life characterized by thoughtfulness, integrity, and a quest to effect positive change, central to SCH’s mission. His honest and compelling voice was a powerful reminder to dream big. With every audience, he urged: “Your story is your superpower—use your story to light the way for others.”