Jimmy Butler is a basketball player who currently plays for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He had one of the most remarkable, rocky paths to success compared to other athletes. At the young age of 13, he was abandoned by his father and kicked out of his house by his mother simply because, “she did not like the look of him” (TheFamousPeople, n.d., par, 2). This caused him to go from couch to couch at his friend’s houses, but even that was an inconvenience. Several times he would wake up not knowing where he was going to be sleeping that evening. This continued until his sophomore year in high school when he finally met a friend and family who would let them into their home. After that, he attended college on a scholarship and progressed into the NBA.
This is a great example of an individual defying the odds thrown against them and making something of themselves. Jimmy was homeless at 13, which is a problem no teenager should have to face and found basketball as an escape. This also shows that not everyone has the same path to success, and many face nearly insurmountable obstacles, but nearly anything is possible with enough dedication in the right areas. Despite being put in one of the worst positions in life, and not necessarily given any hand-outs, Jimmy is now a self-made millionaire doing what he loves and living his American Dream.
Reference
Editors, TheFamousPeople. (n.d.). Jimmy Butler Biography. Retrieved from: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/jimmy-butler-15378.php