We recently connected with Drew Richmond and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Drew thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

I’m glad you asked, this is currently the focus of my organization, MyPurpose Impact Enterprise. We are striving to facilitate a learning environment that improves youth self-efficacy while also recognizing their skills and abilities. We are creating a learning strategy that is more student focused, strengths oriented, and collaborative with students’ needs. This change will allow students, teachers, and families to have a more personal relationship to improve learning and comprehension standards.

Furthermore, between 2009-2019 the CDC’S Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trend Report revealed that 1 in 3 high school students experienced persistent sadness and hopelessness. This statistic is vital because it presents us with information to curate a diverse learning curriculum that will create more exposure for students to recognize opportunities that align with their life goals. Lastly, continuing to evolve learning standards with societal norms, and providing the proper resources will ultimately prepare young people to navigate the world and lead the next generation.

Drew, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Drew Richmond, 27 from Memphis, Tennessee. I’m a professional athlete in the  Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the founder of MyPurpose Impact  Enterprise. At the young age of 16 years old, it became glaring that being a collegiate athlete was  the path for me.Upon achieving this goal, I realized that becoming a professional athlete was an  achievable step after that.

I enrolled in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville following high school graduation as a highly-rated recruit with many accolades and a mountain of expectations waiting for me on campus. However, to start my junior year, I reached a level of frustration and disappointment. All of the Internet fans that praised and supported me years prior seemingly became the same ones making memes and embarrassing posts about me. Some things just aren’t good enough, I was on the field contributing weekly, giving it my all, but it still wasn’t enough. During the peak of this dark period in my career, the following quote

reminded of why I was given the gift to play football.

“The two most important days in your life are the days you were born and the day you find out why.” I heard this quote in a team meeting, and I had my moment of clarity. I went back to my 16-year-old self and thought about why I loved football. Football has afforded me a platform with a spotlight I get to use to connect and share with others, and I hadn’t been doing that up until that point. I was singularly focused on being the best football player I could be, not the best person I could be.

That moment helped realign my focus and, most importantly, MyPurpose. I immediately got involved in the community as a coach and facilitated a mentorship group. Years later, I’m still furthering my athletic capabilities, but this time, criticism and performance results will not distract me from who I am or MyPurpose. MyPurpose Impact Enterprise is an organization that believes in people and their ability to perform magnificent things with the proper preparation and support.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The year was 2021, my first year playing professional football. I waited approximately 20 weeks to get my opportunity to play and show everyone what I was made of. My week is finally here. My first few plays were like riding a bike. We scored twice, and it was a party on the field. Until play number 7, I suffered a significant knee injury, which caused me to miss an entire season. As I laid on the field waiting for the training staff to help me up and assist me off the field, I made it a point to find joy in this circumstance. And I did. Not only have I been able to get to a healthy state physically, I was also able to curate a group of phenomenal team members to join MyPurpose Impact Enterprise in our pursuit of preparing and supporting individuals for a fulfilled life.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The inception of Covid-19 caused us much strife; however, Covid clarified MyPurpose in the most  humbling way. The 2020 NFL Draft was my moment. I’ve worked my entire life to have my NFL process to ultimately show coaches and scouts I’m the man for the job. Unfortunately, around  February 2020, the severity of Covid was apparent. My workouts, interviews, and everything  involving a traditional draft process weren’t even a thought. Rosters were cut short due to the  Covid-19 restrictions leaving me without an opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream of being an  NFL player. 

This period awarded me a significant opportunity, which was time. This was where I could reflect on myself and the value I possess with or without football. I kept a positive outlook on my situation, but I continued to develop my most profound passion for service. Spending time away from football gave me the space and focus to continue building myself as a servant of my community.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: DrewAnthony53
• Linkedin: Drew Anthony Richmond
• Other: email address: [email protected]