A Fighting Chance

Episode 52: Tyler J. (Boxer/Former student)

-Today's episode is a special episode. Not only is it the 1 year anniversary of Episode #1 of the Youth $ports Pod, but the conversation is one of the most important we've had yet...

Sometimes in life you are lucky enough to cross paths with people who will have a profound impact on you and how you view the world. Meet Tyler J. I can’t think of a better story to tell on the 1 year anniversary of starting the Youth $ports Podcast.

The current state of youth sports often has me scratching my head. Then I am reminded that at its core, sports are a beautiful thing. Tyler will not hesitate to tell you that the sport of boxing quite literally saved his life. A gym became a safe haven. A coach became a mentor. (On his boxing coach), “He real deal did save my life. He took me under his wing and taught me that there’s more to life than just the dumb stuff that’s always in front of you. You CAN think 10 steps ahead. You don’t always have to think, like, I won’t make it to tomorrow, so who cares what I do today? He taught me that. There’s a tomorrow if you want there to be a tomorrow. There’s more beyond the city you live in.”

Art imitates life and I think maybe sports do, too. Tyler opens up about his journey with boxing and how the lessons learned within the confines of the gym, inside the ring, had an incredible ripple effect in his life. Tyler admits that he never imagined he would make it past the 11th grade. There was no shortage of people in his life who wanted more for him, who believed in him… But he had to find that belief in himself first. In a moment in the podcast that will live in my soul forever, Tyler perfectly explained why it was so hard for him (and so many young kids) to accept love. He shared where his anger and sadness stemmed from and why some kids will “try to fight you out of their corner.” But more importantly, Tyler unravels what it means when a kid sees that people will keep coming back for them, even after the toughest days. Even after being pushed away again and again. 

When I tell you that every person who ever works with kids or has ever questioned whether or not showing up for someone, even after they’ve tried to push you away, matters… Needs to hang on to every word of this episode. It mattered for Tyler. He is now just weeks away from heading off to basic training for the military. He has taken his life and future into his own hands. “I owe it to my younger self. Because he didn’t believe in himself to do this stuff.”

I will never forget Tyler J, and I have a feeling after listening to this episode, you won’t either.