We caught up with the brilliant and insightful La’Ondre Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
La’Ondre, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I am 23 years old and just like any person in there early 20s its an odd age for us. Were stuck in a time of “we should have everything together by now” to “I have no idea what my purpose is”. Social media doesn’t help that much when people just show success stories and flaunting jewelry and materials. I want to tell the struggle in my story. That it was never easy. And still isnt. I want to show that being vulnerable is okay. And that its never to late to do what you want to do. Take a leap of faith. Take a risk. You never know what it may lead too.
La’Ondre, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is La’Ondre Jones but I go by LA for short. 2023 has been the hardest year of my life. A couple months before my Grandfather passed away from cancer. February I lost my 4 year relationship and home. I fell into depression and my mental health was at its all time worse. Constant suicidal thoughts and just wanted to give up everything. My parents ended up taking me back in at 23 years old. Which felt very defeating because nowadays its looked at negatively. But through all this pain and hardship I endured I started praying. And it led me to what you may see now on social media, boxing. I took a risk and came accross Benavidez Sports and if you know boxing and heard of David Benavidez then you know about this gym in Burien WA. I met my coach Javi and he took me under his wing and ever since march 2023 to today been working hard in finding my self worth again. I am currently a Amateur boxer for the Benavidez camp and im training hard to become pro. I feel my life purpose is to use my plat form to showacase my talents and skills that will help me reach a larger audience to spread mental health awareness and suicide awareness to the world. Using my body as a sacrifice to inspire others, its never too late to do what you love and to take that leap of faith. 23 is a weird age, you feel as though you should have your life together based on what you see on social media. Well I want to show people that nobody is on the same timing. Im considered late starting to box at 23 but I promise you im not normal. And thats okay. I have skills and im motivated and obsessed. Obsession beats talent.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My battle with depression has not been easy. Some days are good and others bad. But I never give up. I am a fighter and I like to think about it as if im in the ring. Im gonna get knocked down and thats okay. But im not going to stay there no matter the odds. And I want to show that to people that go through what I go through or feel what I may feel. Were all people with emotions.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
People see me as a fighter. Or someone that just wants to go pro in boxing. But im not just that. I want to use my skills and platform to entertain yes, but also be able to speak to large audiences in spreading mental health awareness and suicide awareness. Coming from someone who has battled this and still does sometimes I want to tell my story on how I overcame this and how “we” can overcome this. And hopefully my story can inspire others
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/la_jones84?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Other: Just my instagram. Main platform. IG: La_jones84 https://instagram.com/la_jones84?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Image Credits
Ethan for first pic https://instagram.com/ethxe?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==