I was a skinny and very insecure teenager and, as a result, I needed to be someone I wasn’t. Someone great. I even started boxing at fifteen because of this and tried to act like Muhammad Ali. With dedication and a boxing style, I copied from Ali. I was able to win an amateur Golden Gloves championship at 16 years old, but my insecurities stayed with me as I grew older.
Eventually, I found that a continual striving for personal and spiritual growth helped me become more self-confident, and a whole new world opened up to me. One where I would start to love myself and others and help those in need.
Today, I still try to be like Muhammad Ali. But when I stop and think about who I’ve become—who I am. Although I’m not famous or have achieved all the great things he has, I can say I am like Ali in some ways.