I've always been surrounded by others who have been significant influences in my life, but I never realized how much of an impact I could have on others.
On my first day of school at Highland Springs in Richmond, VA, I had three schools contact me and offer me full-ride scholarships.
I remember thinking how crazy that was. It got even crazier when I started receiving Power Five scholarships.
At that point, my coach at Highland Springs, Loren Johnson (Coach J), sat down with me and told me I have a platform now.
He encouraged me to take my younger teammates on some of my recruiting visits. That way, they could see what it's like to be on a college campus and how my work ethic, focus, and dedication was being rewarded as a student-athlete to play football at the next level and earn a higher education.
My athletic scholarships became so much bigger than me because I had a chance to uplift some of my younger teammates and inspire them to work tirelessly for their own goals and dreams. To be in the position of being a mentor and someone guys can look up to is not something I take for granted.
But I wouldn't be where I am without some incredible role models who have shown me the way in what it means to give back and influence others.
Learning from the best
Putting on that Virginia Tech jersey this past season and being a part of a program with such a proud and rich history was surreal to me because it wasn't all that long ago when playing Division I football for a Power Five university seemed like a pipe dream.
When I got to high school, I was like a baby deer on the football field. I had so much to learn that it was almost overwhelming at times, but that's where Justin Fitzgerald came in.
Justin was my first receivers coach in high school, and he taught me everything I know about what it takes to excel at this position.
He would come into practice an hour earlier to work with me. I knew how to catch the ball, but since I was new to the position, he taught me how to run routes that I could use to create separation in games. He also instilled a new level of work ethic and love for the sport.
I've loved football all my life, but as I kept working with Justin and improving my game, it brought a whole new level of appreciation I have for this sport and all the work that's required to be successful.
Another reason Justin was such a key mentor was because he looked out for me off the field, too. He was also an administrator at my school, so he was always making sure I wasn't hanging around the wrong crowd and stayed focused on the right path because he believed in my potential.
I'll never be able to repay him for everything he's done for me, but I hope he understands how much admiration and respect I have for him because he's impacted my life more than he'll possibly ever know.
What it means to give back
Another person who's been a massive influence and role model in my life is Manny Harris. When I was growing up, he started a basketball camp called BlackTop Kings and Queens in Richmond, and he would pick me up in the mornings when my mom was busy working. I'd spend 12 hours a day with him all summer long.
What's also worth mentioning is, like any camp, it costs money to attend. My mom couldn't always afford it, but that never stopped Manny from welcoming me in with open arms. He did the same for other kids.
That's what I love the most about Manny — he didn't open this camp to make a profit or fortune. He opened the camp to give back to the community and ensure kids had something to do in the summer that was fun and kept them out of trouble.
The influence he had on my life and the community is insurmountable.
A significant reason many of us played sports in high school, myself included, was because of all the great times we had at his camp. Whether it was taking a field trip to the water parks, picking us up from school, or just being someone we could talk to, Manny was there for us. He helped teach me what it means to be a man of character and to assist others in need, especially those in my community.
Manny will always have a special place in my heart and will be someone I'll look up to forever.
Pressure is a privilege
Now that I'm older and have the experience of being a student-athlete at the highest level and achieving success, I'm here to help others do the same.
I mentioned before how grateful I was knowing I could make an impact on my younger teammates by taking them with me on recruiting visits, but I want to take it further.
In the Black community, in particular, if I can inspire young kids to believe in themselves and go for their dreams, I can't think of anything more rewarding than that. There isn't a better or more powerful feeling than knowing you're making an impact on someone's life, but there's real pressure in that as well.
It's encouraged me to stay on the straight and narrow because my journey and career isn't just about me anymore. I have a responsibility to show kids that if you want to be an athlete, inventor, entrepreneur, doctor, lawyer, etc., all of those things are possible. You just have to keep working hard and grinding no matter what obstacles come your way.
My mentors have always done everything in their power to keep me on the right path, so now that I find myself in the position of being a mentor of my own, I'm motivated every day to be the best version of myself and live a life that can make myself and those around me proud.
Paying it forward
I wouldn't have the platform and opportunities I've been blessed with without influential leaders like Coach J, Justin, and Manny. They're the reason I go home and talk to youth teams, or send texts to up-and-coming athletes because that's the same kind of encouragement and support they showed me when I was younger.
I can't emphasize enough how much of a blessing it is to pay it forward and change people's lives, and the thing is, you don't have to be a Division I wide receiver to do it.
All of us have the power to influence others. If you can influence one person's life, you can start a chain reaction that influences thousands of lives.
Coming from my experience and upbringing, if we spread joy and positivity from one person to the next, the possibilities are endless for how we can make an impact on the Black community and some of the struggles we face on a daily basis.
But it goes for all races as well.
If we encourage and show love to those around us, not only will it make the world a better place, I'm confident we can accomplish just about anything together.
That's what Coach J, Justin, Manny, and so many other influential mentors taught me, and I couldn't be happier to be following their lead.