I was texting one of my friends back home and in conversation she said,
“Going to Ireland really the best thing you ever did!! “
And right there I thought for a second… all these flashbacks came rushing to my mind of everything I’ve done these past 7 months. I really grew up, experienced new things, and “found” my wings (shoutout to my homie Khalil).
In college I was very organized, scheduled, and didn’t stray off what I had “written” for me. If events weren’t in a plan I usually wouldn’t do it in fear that it would affect me later on down the road. Especially with the strict schedule of basketball I hardly went out. But I pledged to myself when I flew over to Ireland to be more free flowing and say “yes” more often so I can have new experiences. It’s not everyday a kid from the Bronx gets to do what I’ve done…
It never really occurred to me how much I’ve truly done here, just in 7 months I’ve done so much in Ireland…
The list includes:
Coming up I’ll be adding to this list, I’ll be celebrating my 23rd birthday, competing in the Varsities basketball tournament, traveling to Barcelona, running another basketball camp in County Clare, attending my first WWE Live event in Europe, and finishing my course in my masters program.
To say this experience was great is underwhelming, this has legit been the biggest life changing experience of my life. I couldn’t even imagine where I would be if I wasn’t here.
My friend Sowah back home loves the rap artist J. Cole and constantly restates to me on the one line that made him a fan. The line goes, “Keep grindin’ boy, your life can change in one year, and even when it’s dark out, the sun is shining somewhere”. Most recently this line has been sticking out to me, last year around this time I was in a completely different mindset. Scurrying around with college, clubs, jobs, and what I was going to do after graduation…. I never thought in a million years I would be here. But with the right amount of work, timing, preparation, and an opportunity I’m fortunate just like J. Cole said to be in a different place in just one year!
To those people who may be struggling with ANYthing going on in your life, it’s okay… it’s just a bad moment, not a bad life…
“keep grinding, your life can change in one year, and even when it’s dark out, the sun is shining somewhere”.
