Daquan Thomas '23 Recruiting Profile

Many people in Chicago go through trauma. 

A time I faced a challenge was when one of my family members was shot, and I felt helpless because the situation was out of my control.

At the time, me and my family were outside enjoying the weather. The kids were playing, and I think someone was cooking at the time. Then, as we were enjoying the day, shots went off and I couldn’t process any of it. I didn't know who shot the gun or where it came from… I could not process anything because I was little and I didn’t know much, and everything moved so fast people were running and screaming everywhere. To this day I remember how challenging this moment was for me.

This experience made me see that some situations happen for no reason - no matter where one stands. Going through this experience helps me understand that gun violence is out of my control, and nothing is being done to stop it. My thought process at the time was again to figure out how that situation would have never happened, but because it did. I am now aware of every space I go to. I keep a lookout for potential danger when I'm outside at all times. Growing up, I’ve realized how this one situation has changed my thought process as a kid and made me hypervigilant. 

Now, in my teenage years, I want to focus my life on the positive goals I can reach, not the negativity that shaped my past. One of my biggest goals is going to college to play football and one day go pro. In my high school years, I had been playing football since I was a junior; so, I started late and still got lots of learning to learn with the sport of football. Playing football has helped me feel safer and more secure. Football has shown me how to manage my emotions by taking my mind off of being in that intense situation and giving me an outlet to release my frustrations. I use football to let go of all my problems, and I want to continue with my football journey until it becomes my career.