About My Story
Childhood & High School
All my life, I thrived on playing many sports such as basketball, football, and baseball. However, when it came down to school work, I struggled to read, spell, or comprehend it all, unlike my peers who had a less difficult time.
In middle school, my behavior was at its all time worst, because I was being picked on for not knowing how to read. I found myself constantly being suspended for fighting or acting out.
Rolling into my high school years, I was dedicated to proving to all, including myself, that I could graduate from high school. I went above and beyond to receive my high school diploma, all as I was reading at a fourth grade level.
College
I was fortunate to acquire a full-ride football scholarship to attend Central Michigan University. However, during my time, I faced some of the same challenges as I did in high school.
I experienced a moment where a professor informed me that I was never going to succeed in college. I faced my biggest challenge when I struggled to read the football playbook. There were many days where I wanted to come home as a result of my reading frustrations.
Thanks to a wonderful support system and internal perseverance, I made it through my struggles. I learned to ask for help and go the extra mile. I used all the negative feedback to fuel my success. After five stressful years, I managed to receive my bachelor's degree while still working with a fourth grade reading level.
NFL & Beyond
My dreams came true when I made it into the NFL. After the draft, I was signed as a free agent to the Detroit Lions. I was blessed to reach another level in my life. All my hard work was finally paying off.
Once again, my inability to read came back to haunt me. I found myself struggling to read the playbook, and I was too afraid to let anybody know. The Detroit Lions gave me chance after chance, but I missed my opportunity to demonstrate my athletic skills when my poor reading skills got in the way. What I didn't know was that this was only the beginning of my story...
Curated for You
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