Football to me means… Perseverance. Passion. Opportunity.
The game of football has been a constant in my life since starting this journey at six years old. As a scholar-athlete, who comes from humble beginnings, football has always positively impacted my life with the lessons I have learned and will continue to learn as I progress into college.
There were many hardships I encountered growing up that shaped who I am mentally and physically. Being able to play football helped transform my mentality of “never giving up” and to “keep going” when facing the outside world. As an athlete, I love winning, but something I’ve discovered is that losses may happen, and that is okay. With those losses, I was able to reflect and grow from those experiences to gain a better understanding of perseverance and adversity.
With this determination, I discovered my passion for football. This “hunger” has always been a drive to be the best I can be on and off the field, and a motivation to be a representation of my community. I want to let others know that you can make your dreams a reality no matter your circumstance. Never let your environment define you.
I am very thankful for the countless opportunities that football has granted me through building long-lasting friendships and connections as well as shaping my mentality. Football has taught me what it means to have a passion-led life, persevere through anything, and take advantage of every opportunity in a constantly changing environment. Being pushed out of my comfort zone used to terrify me, but I now know that it is necessary for growth.
As I transition into my collegiate career, I want to become the best version of myself on and off the field. The values football has instilled in me have transformed my thinking for the better. I know I will continue to strengthen these values even more as I journey through my academic and athletic career in college. Playing at the collegiate level has always been a dream of mine that I will soon make a reality.