We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stevon Lester a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Stevon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

There is only one thing that is guaranteed in this life, it’s the unfortunate fact that one day it’ll come to an end. Stevon’s goal is to help the Next generation understand that every day that they are given the opportunity to see the sun rise and see the sun set is a blessing. It means that they still have purpose over their lives, though it may not seem like it every day. Some days are harder than others, we can’t control the families that we were born into, the circumstances may not be always favorable, but because we were blessed with another opportunity to see today, it means that there is still purpose to live out, Stevon wants to help those that he comes in contact with, identify their purpose and walk fully in it before life passes them by. That’s all, his purpose is to help others find theirs’. That’s been his story, he is who he is today because people saw that there was purpose in his life. So they spoke to the person he will be instead of the person that he was

Stevon, 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?

From a Young Age, Stevon knew that he was created to be different. It was evident that Stevon would not fall victim to his environment despite trying to fit in with those around him. As a young black male growing up without his biological father in the home, he knew how it felt to be labeled by a statistic before evening having the opportunity to prove himself. In Second grade, he was told that he would be a bum by his teacher. In Fourth grade, he was regarded as the “slowest” person in his class. Truth be told, Stevon was a very intelligent student. He just didn’t know what he was capable of. Growing up in a single parent household was never easy, but things would slowly begin to algin once his mother got married in 2008 to a man with three children of his own.

.Over night, Stevon’s life would change as his family would grow drastically. Years after the combining of these two household, Stevon would struggle to find stability in his life. Though he had a phenomenal mother and a step-father that would do his best to go above and beyond, he moved every single year to a new place and a new school which created this desire for stability. His childhood was far from easy, but those experiences would begin to cultivate something within Stevon. He was always a leader among his peers, though the influence was bad at times, the qualities of a leader were there.

In 8th grade, Stevon found himself at a crossroad that many middle schoolers face, finding out who they are and where they belong. He often found himself trying to fit in with the wrong crowd, hanging with gang members to be accepted by someone, somewhere. But his teachers at Clements Middle School saw something different within him. Though he would go on to make bad decisions such as forging Signatures on his report card, causing distractions for his classmates, and bullying, his teachers would continually call him grandpa. Not because he looked old, not because they wanted to make fun of him, but because they could tell that he was a lot wiser than his age however he was just misdirected. Nevertheless, his teachers continued to pour into this lost boy, planting a seed that would sprout many years later.

It’s because of those moments in school, it’s because of the examples set by Stevon’s Step-Father and Grandfather, it’s because Stevon’s relationship with God that he is who he is today! Stevon would go on to graduate highschool with a 3.69 GPA, enroll into college and receive awards such as Student of The Year, President of the Year, Fraternity Member of the Year, President’s List & Dean’s List. It’s because of the seed that was planted many years ago, that Stevon now lives to speak life into the next generation to show them that there is a leader inside of them!

Stevon Lester is a highly sought after Transformational Youth Speaker in the South East. Speaking at k-12 schools, colleges, and churches across the southeast looking to spread his message nation wide! His story is one of hope, purpose, and resilience to show this next generation that they do not have to be a product of their environment! He believes that every single person in this world today has a purpose and each day that we are given breathe should be used to live out our purpose. However, our youth face a dilemma. Due to them not knowing what their purpose is, it causes them to turn to other places and people as an attempt to fit in as Stevon once did.

When Stevon comes to a school, he comes to rectify that problem to show to this next generation that they are here on PURPOSE, all they have to do is believe.

As Stevon says, ” Everything Begins In Your Mind, Your Life Will Change When Your Mindset Changes!”

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Stevon has never been a person that has shied away from working. When you grow up the way he did, it puts in you a place where you decide to make it happen for yourself the best way you could. In 2019, Stevon struggled severely with depression. He had his hopes set high going into his sophomore year of College, but everything would soon change after his car would fail in the summer, days later Stevon was diagnosed with a terrible eye infection, and then would require surgery to repair his ankle that he broke just weeks later. He was perplexed, everything seemed to fall into alignment as he left campus in may going into his second year of college but to make matters worst, his financial aid did not come through either. Within two months, his entire life changed, and everything he expected to have going into the next year was officially gone. He could’ve been victim, he could’ve got upset and just decided to go back home and complain but instead he decided to make it happen for himself! Stevon was blessed by a mentor of his to find a living situation off campus, then he would go on to apply for & receive a job with the Boys and Girls Club Of Chattahoochee Valley and roll into the office with full confidence for his interview while his ankle was still broken. Stevon even picked up the graveyard shift at the library on his college campus at the same time to ensure that he could pay for school and maintain his current living situation. This is what resilience looks like! Doing the best with what you have and deciding to never quit on yourself and your dreams!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Growing up Stevon was use to living in a household with just his mother, his older sister and himself. Everything would change when his mother got married in 2008 to a gentleman that had three kids of his own. Overnight he went from a comfortable living situation to now having to share everything he had but also moved every single year up until the 9th grade while his parents tried to find what was best for them. It wasn’t an easy time, but it showed Stevon that sometimes life just happens. Instead of complaining, roll with the punches to see how you can make the most out of every single opportunity!

Contact Info:

• Website: iamstevonlester.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamstevonlester/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevonlester
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevon-lester-b441361b4/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67ayQzt2a6qqwW5OWeNdfA
• Other: [email protected]