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THE POWER OF TAKING THE PLUNGE

some of the examples that fueled many boy’s
motivation.

My mom also appeased me by buying a weight
set for me at the age of ten. I began putting
most of my focus on getting stronger and
tougher. The one thing that I totally ignored
was other sports.

I once considered myself to be an excellent
basketball player. Compared to the other boys
in my small community, I felt confident in my
skills as a basketball player. The legendary Jerry
West was most boys’ hero. He too was a West
Virginian who left the small town of Cabin
Creek to become a famous NBA basketball star.

By the age of twelve, I realized that basketball
was not going to be my ambitious pursuit. I
quickly lost interest. I had put my interests in
other things (some not good) and my friends
kept getting better at the sport. As a kid with no
dad to influence me, I just took it upon myself
to stick with what I was good at doing —
fighting and getting tougher. Even though I
managed to get my butt kicked, I was convinced
that being tough was my calling.

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