Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Okonye.
Joshua, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
“Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity. Why be realistic?!” This is one of many phrases by Will Smith that I heard at an early age. It has stuck with me and been a driving force in the way I live my life. I started out as just another kid who had dreams to play in the National Football League, but who had asthma and was not athletic at all. My first time playing organized football was in 7th grade and boy was I behind the curve. Despite the ridicule and discouragement that I received when I told people of my plans to be in the NFL one day, I continued to work hard. With the help of one of my best friends, Russel Orhii, I was able to block out the noise and focus on putting the extra work I needed to be the best. Year after year my role on the team grew. Before I knew it, I was committed to play defensive back at Wake Forest University a Division-1 school in the ACC conference. I was excited to feel like I would be where I belonged.
That was until I got on campus and realized I was now on a team of other highly talented players who were the best of the best where they came from. I was back to square one trying to prove that I was capable of playing at a higher level. In a room of seventeen defensive back, five who were freshman, I was the only one who had been redshirted and had to sit out my first year and could not suit up on game day. My confidence definitely took a blow but I kept pushing. When the team would travel before a game on Fridays, I would always go out to the football field and work on my craft. My mindset never changed and I knew that if I put in the work I would put myself in the best position possible to reach my goals. As time went on my role on the team grew each year once again. Unfortunately, I never really got chance to get as much playing time as I hoped for, but I still had the opportunity to showcase my talent with the chances I had and was fortunate enough to transfer to Purdue University for my last season. I was thrust into a starting role playing corner-back which ended in Big 10 All Conference honors.
After going undrafted, I was given a chance to attend Rookie minicamp for the Detroit Lions on a tryout basis. I gave it all I had and was fortunate enough to be one of the three tryout players out of 40 to officially sign a contract to become a member of the team. As I was pursuing my dream of playing in the NFL, I also found a new dream; a career in physical therapy. Education always played an important role in my life, so I made sure to do what I needed to do academically. After a brief stint with the Lions, I decided to intentionally pursue physical therapy. I’m proud to say I have gotten accepted into one of the schools I applied to and still waiting to hear back from my number one choice. In the end, it’s a tremendous feeling to have a school to attend in the Summer/Fall. I plan on continuing to pursue every goal that I set for myself and always strive for success. I want to show that it is possible to do what you want in life no matter how “unrealistic” it may seem to others.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely was not a smooth road. Once I proved those who believed I could not earn a college scholarship for football wrong, I inherited a whole new set of doubters at the next level. Whether it was people telling me I should think about pursuing an easier major and not try to be a physical therapist or people who told me I did not have the talent to play, I kept believing in myself and maintained my drive. Even though the road has not been a smooth one, I’m grateful that it wasn’t. Going through the many obstacles gave me the confidence to believe that I could make it through anything and that no goal is outside of my reach.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the vast variety of food choices that are available in Houston. There’s always a new food spot to try out and new ones constantly being built. One of the few things I dislike about the city is the terrible traffic, especially with more and more people moving to Houston. Not to mention the increase in construction coming along with it.
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