We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Garrett Dailey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Garrett below.
Garrett, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
Hello, my name is Garrett. For myself to be put into the position as President of Men’s Health Organization, you’re wondering how I started this? First, let me start by stating that I am a veteran. I joined the marines outside of High school. The Marines would prove to be the hardest challenge I have ever been through, and taught me when I joined as a teen, I had a lot growing up to do. I made plenty of mistakes along the way, and I pushed myself to overcome any trial. My mentors were some of the best critiques; they taught me how the world functions, and how to be a man. Upon leaving the Marines, I decided to finish my college education, and start attendance at The University of Alabama.
Coming back and participating in society as a vet has been one of the hardest transitions, especially living in a college town. Something that no vet thinks will happen to them is they will struggle with their mental health. I remember there were nights where things really seemed hopeless. School was hard, my job was working me full time hours, I was alone. I prayed to God for the strength to overcome the difficulty I was that night. Scrolling on social media, I came across a random influential person telling me to stop feeling sad, and gave me guidance on how to use turmoil to help get better and grow as a person, this person’s name was Andrew Tate.
Overcoming one night specifically that comes to mind, I had an epiphany that there must be others struggling, like myself.
Rather than turning a blind-eye, I was grateful God had helped at my lowest point. I decided to set out to try to help others, undergoing the same problems. Little did I know, that night had opened my eyes up to something I had never noticed: The overall Mental health/Suicide rate of just men alone out of all the suicides, is nearly 80%(CDC). This startled me, and I felt obligated to try to help others, and do what I could. I decided to try to have an intervention at my school, and try to use what means I could, to try to help the men that were unwell.
It had never been done before, a health organization devoted to helping the men on a college campus. I decided to start my organization devoted to assisting the male population in areas of health to include: physical/mental/sexual/spiritual health. At a later point, due to generational lack of males being capable and mature, as men, experiencing first taste of independence on their own, I would decide to add on a secondary task to help teach traditional masculine skills, and try to give mentoring and guidance to young men.
My organization was set up, but little did I know, I would not receive a warm welcoming from the community. The fact that people do not like me, tells me that what I’m fighting for is worth something. I am going to do what I can to try to help men around the nation, try to bring masculinity back to society, and try to help other men when their mental health is down.
This previous semester we were able to take students and teach them: auto mechanics, teamwork performance, modern courting, and firearm safety. My organization was able to establish support groups, where if students were having negative thoughts they had peers that were there to pick themselves up. I have a wonderful team, we refer to as a Cabinet, that assist me in getting projects done, and this fall we will continue to help who we can, and try to serve amongst the community on campus.
I am hoping that Men’s Health Organization can grow, and it will leave a positive legacy!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
– God gives his toughest trials to those that can handle them. God knew I would come out ok, I try to help others in ways that I can. He gave me a trial, something worthy a challenge, and I conquered it, as he knew that I would. – I provide mentoring and constructive guidance to helping young men. Upon us growing, I would like to be able to provide resources to the campus, and be able to collaborate with others, with missions that can assist mine.
– I solve all kinds of problems, from nutrition advice, to Gym routines, to being someone that younger men can fall back on when they have a bad day. I cannot tell you how many of people have came to me to ask for advice on their significant other and what they should do!
– I think the thing I am proud of most are, results. I am a man of results. Progress is what I live to achieve. Since I opened Men’s Health Organization, I have seen guys working out more, guys that are trying to stop vaping, guys that have gave up partying to get their future right, guys who are trying to lose weight, etc. I made this, and I impacted someone’s life; that makes me feel like I did something right, and even though I don’t get anything for my efforts, it gives me a sense of fulfillment and peace.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Having devout faith, and believing in the impossible. I have had days where I feel like sometimes its a lost cause, hey I have bad days too. These young men, don’t let me down; they are true to helping others, and when I feel like I have had enough of the challenges I face they pick me up, and help push me forward.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Rely on your team, respect them, set the expectations, be hard on them, but praise them when they deliver. Besides that, you need to hold and impact on them. If they’re not getting something from it, they lose interest. In some way, they find meaning in their contributions in what they bring to the table.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mysource.ua.edu/organization/menshealthorg
- Instagram: UAMENSHEALTHORG