A few months ago, I was invited to speak at Benjamin Franklin MS, the middle school I attended as a young teenager. Not only did I spread awareness about the issue of food insecurity to over 750 eager students, but I also talked about my personal story as a former athlete who discovered a new passion and purpose. During my time as a competitive tennis player, traveling every weekend for tournaments and practicing for 4 hours each day, I felt as if my life revolved around the sport of tennis. For so long I had been working to achieve my own goals, and while I eventually reached most of them, I still felt a part of me was missing.
When I first started volunteering at the Ridgewood Social Services food pantry, I felt a sense of fulfillment that I never felt throughout my tennis career. These days, it's very easy to get caught up in our own goals and missions that we forget the "We". When I was in middle school, all I was thinking about was tennis and how I could do better at my next tournament. Unfortunately, this lifestyle led me to burn out and feel as if there was a puzzle piece missing from my life. Through my message about the fight against food insecurity, I also hope to inspire students to help others by sharing my story as a former athlete who filled that gap and found balance in his life by striving to make an impact.
A few photos from our assembly at BFMS
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