Justin A.

Justin is a 22-year-old, junior student-athlete at Belmont Abbey College, a Division II school located near Charlotte, North Carolina. He is currently studying Sports Management while balancing the expectations of Collegiate basketball. Originally from Houston, Texas, Justin just recently moved to San Antonio where his family resides while he is attending school for most of the academic year. Justin’s story is rooted deeply in family, African American culture, and his ever-growing love for the game of basketball. 

Justin was born to Nigerian parents who immigrated to the United States in the early decade of the 90’s. It wasn’t until over ten years later that both of his parents attained their full, legal United States citizenship. Justin’s parents worked tirelessly to build a stable and reliable home for themselves and their family all while balancing the cultural challenges of being an immigrant in a foreign country. Justin’s mother ensured that their household instilled moral values such as discipline, integrity, and hard work. He states that his mother kept him and his family grounded and surrounded by positive influences. Because his mother fluctuated on the busy work schedule of being a registered nurse, Justin’s brother often filled the caregiver role and became one of the most influential relationships in his life. The relationships with his mother and brother shaped his outlook and gave him the encouragement he needed to succeed in all aspects of life. 

What many people don’t know about Justin is that his athletic career didn’t begin with him shooting hoops on the basketball court. The first competitive sport Justin participated in was the game of jump rope. Participating in competitive jump rope allowed Justin to travel the country and even internationally to Hong Kong for world competitions. Justin described his competitive jump rope team as being extremely diverse and rich in culture which helped him become familiar with all different types of people in a social aspect. Through this unique experience, Justin learned not only physical coordination and hand-eye coordination but also the importance of effective communication, disciplining his body, and the art of perseverance through difficult situations. These traits that Justin learned through competitive jump roping eventually translated into his definitive approach to life and the game of basketball. 

It wasn’t until eighth grade that Justin began to take basketball more seriously as he realized he was naturally talented on the court. After a humbling experience of trying out for the middle school team and making the B squad, he committed himself to progressively developing his skills he eventually began working with an athletic trainer that his mother helped him form a connection with. Working with an athletic trainer marked a turning point in Justin’s life as he was left with the decision to pursue basketball which would be the beginning of a dedicated journey of improving as an athlete and as a person. Justin attributes his journey of growth not just to his self-motivation but also to his relationships with family and his athletic trainer who acted as a mentor in his life. Justin believes that without the supportive environment of the people around him, while he was growing up, he wouldn’t have gone down the same rewarding path as he chose to go on. 

When asked to describe himself using one word, Justin confidently chose perseverance. Whether it's training multiple times a day, balancing academic challenges in hopes of making the President’s List, or facing adverse situations on and off the court, Justin constantly reminds himself that the hard work he puts into every day is pushing him forward to achieve his attainable goals of playing professional basketball. During a moment of frustration that he experienced during his teen years, Justin’s mother motivated him by encompassing the wise words “delay is not denial”—a powerful reminder that helped him maintain a strong, willful mindset as he pushed through internal and external setbacks. 

Outside of his tight, daily schedule of balancing school work and basketball, Justin loves spending his free time immersed in music, nature, and food. Justin says that creating his music allows him to “tap into his creative flow” in which he can artistically express his inner self. He also loves discovering and walking new hiking trails which he says helps him feel more grounded to earth. Along with making new music and surrounding himself with nature, Justin also loves trying new foods from different cultures as he calls himself an “avid foodie.” Being near a large city like Charlotte has expanded his food pallet because there is an abundance of different cultural foods to discover. 

When asked about his short-term goals, Justin says that by the end of the Spring semester, he would like to qualify for the President’s List —an honorable academic achievement that is recognized by the President of the University. As for his long-term goals, Justin is working hard towards becoming a professional basketball player. Born a natural leader, Justin also finds motivation through uplifting other players on his team to achieve their own goals as well as his own. In every aspect of his life, including sports, academics, and relationships, Justin embodies what it takes to rise to his highest potential through the power of perseverance and passion. 

Justin had many insightful notions regarding mental health. Just concluded that mental health is really about one's self-awareness and concludes, “Just knowing something is off is the first step.” For Justin, understanding mental health isn’t just about identifying potential underlying issues but it also includes being in tune with oneself to be able to recognize when something isn’t quite right when emotional shifts are occurring. He emphasizes that mental health struggles are not always clearly announced as they can often hide in the shadows of cognitive thoughts therefore someone needs to be aware and well educated on different elements regarding mental health. 

Justin also emphasized mental health awareness when it comes to being an athlete through his own firsthand experiences. Mental health struggles can cause athletes to have major setbacks in their performance as well as other areas of their life such as their academics and relationships. Justin watched many of his teammates face their challenges and as any natural-born leader would do, Justin became a shoulder to lean on as he encouraged them to get back on track through motivational conversations and uplifting support. Justin reiterated the importance of providing someone with a strong support system by saying “Just being there for someone, helping them know they’re not alone —that makes a difference.” Empathy and understanding one's emotions as well as understanding the emotions of others is part of his philosophy as it helps guide others through challenges. The power of communication and human connection helps build his mindset and in return, he uses the same tools to establish strong mentalities in his peers. 

Although Justin has used mental health resources such as talking to his personal support group and a therapist at one point, he finds the greatest strength in maintaining his faith. As a devoted member of Catholicism, Justin says his relationship with God and Jesus Christ has saved him in many ways than just one. Justin says that the art of prayer and significant time reflecting and reading the Bible has kept him grounded as he claims “I just want to make sure I’m not taking my situation for granted” when describing himself as having a “blessed” life. Maintaining his faith has helped him see different perspectives as he realized that many people around him lead less fortunate lives than he does. When times seem to be tough, Justin likes to remind himself of the little things in life that could be overlooked for how simple they seem to be. Justin stated, “Whether it’s having food to eat, gas in your car, or just a roof over your head, those little things matter.” When things like food and shelter are a part of everyday life and remain constant, it becomes quite easy to overlook those blessings when presented with other hardships. 

In Justin’s eyes, advocacy for mental health is more important than ever. As a male student-athlete, he has seen how society tends to stigmatize mental health in men. Justin pointed out that men are often expected to hide their emotions from other people and push through tough situations all while internalizing their true feelings. He says that it is society’s job to help raise awareness around mental health in males so that more meaningful connections can be formed through the art of having open and honest conversations. 

Justin’s story and perceptions of mental health mark the powerful journey he has made throughout the years of his life. Through faith, self-awareness, and passion, Justin has found his true purpose and fulfillment through simple, everyday routines. Perseverance is the tool that has pushed Justin to grow into a strong-minded individual who helps others while in pursuit of his own goals and aspirations.