Justin Alliman new scholarship will assist in helping young people LIVE THEIR DREAMS

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

I was not surprised when I received an email from Justin Alliman letting me know that he had been using COVID-19 as a way to set up his next big move. Justin is a young man who is intrinsically motivated, and he does things because it matters to him personally,

His life experiences combined with the problem-solving techniques he has perfected over time, has served as building blocks for each time he has needed to propel himself toward action. To Justin, motivation is not a feeling; it’s a habit, and he has utilized this pandemic to strengthen that habit successfully.

At the outset of the pandemic there were many of us who had big plans for life changes like: learning a new skill, getting our finances in order or finally getting serious about our health.

Many people did, but as the pandemic drags on, restrictions remain in place and clarity on when things will return to normal stays unclear, some people are reporting that they’re losing the motivation they once had.

Thankfully, Justin is not one of those people. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was first introduced to Justin last year when he decided to give his fans, and readers access to his very, intense, and drama filled story. In his first official book, he took us through an introduction of his childhood that was riddled with trauma, all the way to the start of his NBA career.

I personally had a chance to speak with Justin when his book first came out, and I learned about the adversity he faced, and I was amazed at how brilliantly he was able to use his real-life experiences to deliver a positive message of overcoming all obstacles. The book did so well that ByBlack’s awarded him with the People’ Choice Award for Best Author in 2020.

Justin is also the founder of Dream Chaserzzz “Don’t sleep on me,” Basketball Inc. (2013). He had a vision; he wanted to help others who like him were seen as the underdog because they may not have had the opportunities to play rep basketball due to financial restrictions. Young people can come there and expect to be trained and treated like a pro athlete, no matter what level they are at. To Justin, getting better isn’t about training hard; it’s about training with purpose.

With young people still in the forefront of his efforts, Justin is now working on starting the “Live Your Dream Scholarship Fund,” which will provide youth with an opportunity to attend post-secondary or start their own business.

I had a chance to catch up with Justin last week, and he shared his excitement about his latest youth initiative.

“I always wanted to do this, but I figured that when I was in a better place, I would start,” he began.

“People often think of lack during times like this and believe me; I get how easy it is to get into that thought mode. Me, I took advantage of this pandemic. With this much time on my hands, I had time to plan.

 I feel strongly that more should be done for our young people. I don’t think that the government does enough for young students who want to further their education and attend post-secondary.

 Now, I realize that not everyone is going to want to go to post-secondary school, nor should they be forced to do so. This scholarship is going to be for young people who have a plan for their lives. It could be a business plan, or an education plan, as long as you have a solid plan, I would like to help you.

 I will be giving away two scholarships, and young people ages 17-21 years old can apply. The application process is going to start closer to the end of 2021, and then we can award the recipients in 2021.”

Justin has acknowledged the limiting situations that this pandemic has put us in, and he has refrained from over-tapping his emotional capacity. He adamantly searches for the silver lining because he knows that it will play an essential role in helping him stay positive, and in turn motivated.

As the world stands still, Justin’s voice and his actions continue to fill the silence. His hope is that his motivation will empower others to emerge from this quarantine better than how they entered it.