I was born in Montreal, I lived all my life there. I started playing football when I was 6. 14 years later, I'm still playing. Growing up as a football player, you always had that dream of the National Football League, but as a player from Canada, you quickly understand that it's likely not going to happen.
I was in grade 11, and for me the dream was dead. I was a very good football player, made all the All-Star team possible. To reach the NFL, you had to go to an American University. At that time, I didn't think there was a possible way for me to get there, I didn't think I could do it.
Then, an old coach of mine hooked me up with a coach from Buffalo. Only two weeks later, I had my first offer. I was very happy, but at the same time, that meant that if I wanted to go there, I'd have to leave all my family, and friends in Montreal. Also, I wasn't anglophone. I thought a lot about the situation, and I realized that it was a lifetime opportunity to go there.
I just finished my first semester, here, at UB. The beginning was though, because I didn't know anyone, and it was hard for me to speak English. I believed in myself, and now I'm friends with most of the guy on the team, and I'm in the top-10 for GPAs in the team.
I realized that it isn't about how you are at the beginning of a chapter, but it's how you want to finish it.