July 13, 2025 • 34 mins
How much could you overcome when life is stacked against you from the beginning? Meet Castera Charles. Taken into child slavery in Haiti and physically branded (under 5 yrs old!), he defied the odds and built a new life in America—becoming a college football player and a dedicated sports coach and mentor, inspiring youth across the country.
Castera’s story is unforgettable. Join us as we talk about how he turned every pain into strength, showing what it really means to not just survive, but thrive.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So tell me about yourself.
I know that you were born inHaiti, yes, and let's start with
your childhood and we'll savethe best for last.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Sounds good to me.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Okay, so you were born in Haiti.
Did you have brothers andsisters?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yes, I had many brothers and sisters from my
biological family okay, okay,now did.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Did they come over with you?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
no, they did not.
They're still in Haiti.
My one sister is in France now.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Okay, okay, do you keep in touch with her?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, a little bit.
And then I used to for a whilelike keep in touch with my
brother in Haiti, but I haven'theard from him in a while.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Okay, so tell me what your childhood was like.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
My childhood in Haiti was a big struggle, you know,
with malnutrition, sickness,disability that I didn't know
about, not know my biologicalfamily living in the streets,
(01:24):
but one day getting captured inthe child slavery, which is
known as modern day slavery inHaiti, where people are forced
to work and they don't getrewarded nothing.
It's just them, you know,sleeping on floors, getting beat
(01:47):
and doing things against theirwill.
You know right now.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Does this start with children?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
yes, it does start with kids, you know so at the
time I was about three years oldwhen I got into child slavery,
and so I got captured from thestreet and then after that, I
was branded on my left arm righthere.
(02:17):
I don't know how well you cansee it Still have it to this day
, and I was forced to work wow,now did every child or adult get
branded.
I think so.
(02:37):
Yeah, okay to keep track ofwho's who you know.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Wow, and you thought this was normal in your life at
that time.
Yeah, wow, wow.
So how did you get over here?
Tell me that part.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
So the missionary rescued me and then put me in an
orphanage.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
She rescued me for 60 bucks, by the way, in US
dollars, if you were curiousabout that and then after that,
Dollars $50, yep.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Wow Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Then what happened was, at that time, a family in
Ohio was looking into adoptionand they looked and saw, you
know, haiti, and the firstpicture I guess that popped up
(03:43):
was a picture of me smiling, andmy mom tells me to this day
that's one of the reasons sheadopted me.
And then, you know, they wantedto add to the family and, um,
they were they also.
You know, they also like,manage, manage it very well, you
(04:06):
know, just working with kidsthat have disabilities or
struggles, you know, in thisstory, Wow, so how old were you
when you came to?
America in 2005 of December 29th, and I was about six years old
(04:30):
at the time.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wow, you remember that date really easily.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I do.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
What was the first thing you did when you came to
America?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
The first thing I did was meet my adoptive family,
and then I had my first Americanmeal, which was pizza.
It was large.
Ate it all by myself.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Oh, a large pizza.
Oh my gosh, that had to beamazing.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Oh, best feeling in the world, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
For sure, for sure.
So did you share the house witha brother, stepbrothers and
stepsisters then, or were youthe only child?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
you the only child?
No, so so um, they have twobiological daughters of theirs
in the family.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
They're both.
They're both about 10 yearsolder than me.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Okay, so did they just take you under their wing
and take care of you.
Yeah, they did, but I didn't,didn't?
You know, since they're a lotolder than me, I didn't really
get to be around that muchbecause it was, you know, going
into elementary school.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
They were in high school and then, you know, yeah,
for sure, high school is awhole different world and then
they weren't on the college, youknow so how was it in school?
Because I read that you were um.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
You didn't like school so much yeah, I've never
well, because I struggle withlearning things and I think
people don't understand that.
You know okay you can't justtalk to me into something.
You have to visually or hand on, show me something, and not
(06:37):
only that, but I think thatpeople lose like patience with
like having to repeat themselves.
You know not understanding.
You know my background wow.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
So you went to grammar school in america right
like first grade.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
So I went.
So I went to an all-hearingwhite school in America.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
How was that?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I mean, it was a big struggle for me, you know.
First thing, you know, justlike when I arrived to America
learning how to use the bathroom, because in Miami I peed in a
(07:32):
planter because I didn't knowhow to use the bathroom- oh, wow
.
So my parents both you know hadlearned that, you know, know I
needed some work and they knewwhen they came to school that I
was going to struggle with likecommunication, because english
(07:55):
is not my first language rightsaw that you know, um, I would
not be motivated about school,and you know that I didn't know
how to play with other kids myage and I had trouble with
(08:16):
focusing.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Okay, so like an ADHD .
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah.
Learning disability yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Wow, so we're done with grammar school.
And then you went into highschool.
Mm-hmm yeah, okay, so were youplaying sports as a freshman?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yes, so I started playing sports when I arrived to
America Soccer, for I don'tthink long.
And then I did baseball for ayear before middle school, then
got into basketball and thenfootball came around, middle
(08:58):
school, where I scored my firsttouchdown oh, that was it that
changed my moment.
That changed my moment, you know, of how I saw things and it
helped me improve of who I wasas a person and working just
harder in school and real life.
(09:20):
And then I did track to likehelp me with my speed in
football and that led me tobeing motivated to one to
continue to play football inhigh school and at the college
level football in high schooland at the college level Wow.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Did you understand how big?
It was to be chosen forfootball in the college?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yes, okay, good Opportunity.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Right, right.
So how did that start?
Did a scout see you or did youtry out Like, how did that work?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
all the way through high school just writing letters
to coaches, okay, in theconnection.
And then one day, my senioryear of high school, I got a dm
(10:43):
on twitter from the Gallaudetfootball coach.
Let me know that he wasinterested and Gallaudet is a
deaf, hard of hearing school.
Because I've always been hardof hearing my whole life, people
would think I accepted theoffer.
But at the same time I was,like you know, hesitate on it
because I was so, you know, usedto the hearing world.
(11:07):
Even though I have hearing aids, I read lips, you know, I was
still just used to the hearingworld.
Never have I been in the deafcommunity or had the opportunity
.
I didn't know about it yet.
But also, the thing that reallyhelped me was that I got
(11:31):
support from my adoptive familyas well to help lead me to the
opportunity.
So I went on a few visits toGallaudet, still was not sure
and you know, not really havingdiversity, I decided that was
(11:53):
the best opportunity for me, youknow, to continue to survive
and thrive and show that I cando anything I put in my heart to
you know.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Yeah, that is huge, because how many people would
have just given up on life?
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I think a lot of people.
You could sit there in thecorner and feel sorry for
yourself and do nothing rightbecause you get a no but at the
same time, I didn't let my Haitistory or you know the struggles
(12:33):
I've had with lack of diversity.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Wow, no, you have not , that is for sure.
I mean, you are such aninspiration.
By just watching your footballtapes, it's amazing.
Now was everybody on the teamdeaf?
Deaf, yes, so okay, some peoplewere deaf.
(13:09):
Um, some are hard of hearing.
A few are hearing okay so how?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
how did the coach coach this?
So the coach is hearing thecoach um, he uses sign language.
You know, the first time hearrived at Gallaudet he didn't
know sign either, and we just helearned.
We just helped him learn right,and now it's all good.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Right and the team accepted you because you're one
of their own.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Yes, I'm one of them.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
That's wonderful.
So were there any struggles onthe team?
I mean, or did you just becomea superstar right away?
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Um, there were.
There was a lot of struggles.
Honestly, you know I've learnedover the years.
You know I thought you know noteveryone will see you as them.
So first time going toGallaudet I really struggled
(14:28):
because I was not great withsign language.
I never learned it before.
I never learned it before andyou know, learning about the
deaf community I learned that.
You know they can be friendlypeople but not all of them are
friendly.
(14:48):
They're still negative in theirdrama gossip.
You know you just got to watchdeaf you.
But at the same time thepositive that helped me so much
struggle was there were peoplethat's been signed in a long
time, that understood me.
That helped learn more aboutthe Deaf culture.
(15:11):
I mean, just learning about theDeaf culture was great for me
and learning sign language wasgreat for me and just making new
friends that can relate, youknow.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Yes, absolutely.
So you went on and you playedamazing, played amazing you.
I mean, you were like the topguy, you were the guy.
So did you play all four yearsof college?
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yes, I did play all four years of college.
Now, you know, in college Iwill tell you that you know,
going there you can be the starof your team from high school,
middle school, it doesn't matter.
But it's a whole new ball gameand you know I had to compete
(16:23):
with a lot of people, you know,and sometimes I had my moments
where I got a lot ofopportunities and then there
were a lot of time where I gotlack of opportunities, you know,
and also you know the injurydidn't help either and just lack
of opportunity didn't reallyhelp.
But at the end of the day, I Idid my best, even though I may
not have been the best player onthe team.
But I think the thing that mademe stood out was I was using my
(16:50):
story to inspire people.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Now that's wonderful and everyone, I'm sure sure has
been really receptive to thatstory and inspired wow, I mean,
that's just.
That's a lot of goodness inyour heart.
So um did, how do you start outtelling your story when you
(17:17):
meet somebody, like on thefootball team?
At what point do you say I'vereally struggled in my childhood
and then tell your story?
Speaker 2 (17:29):
I just tell them.
You know like I try to keep itshort even though it's a long
story, but I just went throughpoverty in haiti and you know,
just go to that.
The missionary rescued me.
Then I got adopted in america,struggling with being hard of
(17:52):
hearing.
You know, just the opportunityto get in to play football, you
know just the opportunity to getin to play football.
Mm-hmm, I just let them knowthat.
Hey, you know I struggle with alot of things.
I'm sure you have too, and I'mhere to share my story If you
(18:16):
want to, if you feel like you'renot in the right moment or the
right place.
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Right, and I'm sure there's just a lot of boys that
look up to you.
That's got to make you feel sogood.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
It does make me feel good, you know.
Just the opportunity, you know,to be able to have people come
up to me, just knowing the story, telling me that they've heard
of the story makes me feel goodand that they're inspired.
At the end of the day, it'sgreat.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Yeah, absolutely Absolutely.
So you said you had injuries.
Is that in football you gotinjured?
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Yeah, it started with high school.
My freshman year I had ankleinjury.
My sophomore year I made itthrough healthy.
My junior year I had hamstringinjuries and then I also had an
(19:24):
ankle injury as well too.
And then senior year of highschool, I was good um.
Freshman year of college, I wasgood.
My sophomore year I struggledwith a little bit of injury from
track season okay and um andthrough the hamstring.
(19:48):
Junior year not really muchfrom the lack of opportunity.
Then my senior year, you know Iwas, you know, getting ready
for a big year and I was excited.
You know I was not the main guybut I was having fun,
(20:11):
practicing well.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You know, played in a few games before that and then
I had a blood clot that ended myfootball career.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
How did you know you had a blood clot?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
career.
How did you know?
You had a blood clot During themiddle of the season?
During the middle of the seasonI was running a, and you know,
(20:59):
then I sat out practice and thenthe next day practiced again.
Then we had a bus ride that wassupposed to be like I don't
know five, six hours long, andyou know, I was sitting there I
was still feeling somethingweird, and then I tried to play
(21:24):
in the game and I was just slow,not moving at all, and so then
you know, I got taken out of thegame, and after that, you know,
I had another long bus rideback to Gallaudet.
I evaluated the next day, foundout that my right leg was bigger
than my left leg and my calf mycalf.
(21:52):
And so I had to go to thedoctors and they found out I had
a blood clot and that Icouldn't, you know, work out for
a while or, you know, playfootball.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Wow, are you on blood thinners?
Now for that.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Finished with it awesome, awesome that.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That is terrifying it is gay wow, and at any point
through all these setbacks, youcould have given up, right.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I could have.
I could have.
I could have said you know, Idon't want to coach sports or,
you know, be a personal trainer.
But at the end of the day, youknow, I may not be playing
football, but at the end of theday, I'm still inspiring people
through coaching and fitness.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Right, tell me about that.
You're coaching basketball.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Yeah, yeah, so I'm coaching basketball.
So you know, my senior year ofcollege I was looking for job
opportunities, thought about itand you know I looked at mostly
Florida, because that's where alot of my families are diversity
(23:16):
, the deaf community and beingcloser to Haiti, because I was
born in Haiti.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
And so you know.
Then I got the job opportunityafter applying for two months
and found out that FSDB, floridaSchool for the Deaf and Blind,
wanted me and I was an assistantteacher, which I was not a fan
(23:47):
of just was not my thing.
Which I was not a fan of, justwas not my thing.
But I loved the coaching part,though Coaching the deaf school
was fun.
And then, you know, throughthat time I was able to inspire
many deaf, hard-of-hearing kidsat FSDB part of hearing kids at.
(24:09):
FSDB.
After that I moved on and nowI'm working at the YMCA coaching
basketball, helping with thewellness floor, personal
training and the kid zone.
You know, just making the bestof it.
(24:29):
And you know I just had my lastgame yesterday with the kids
and they were all inspired andloved that.
I coached them and they, youknow, told me that after they
found out about my story, notonly them but the parents who
were our biggest supportersduring the season, you know,
(24:52):
showed some love and it wasgreat.
And you know, just seeing thatmakes me also feel, you know,
inspired too.
The kids inspired me.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Yeah, that's really sweet.
I know they will love to hearthat.
Now you're so positive and youjust radiate this amazing energy
At any time.
Did you struggle like withdepression?
Like why me?
Or were you always thispositive?
Like why me?
(25:28):
Or?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
were you always this positive?
There's been times you knowwhere I struggled with, like you
know, with like stress through,like college football, you know
, lack of opportunity.
Or you know high school, whereI was in an all white hearing
school.
You know I struggled with that.
(25:52):
But other than that, you know,I don't really think of it as
why me a lot, because I know,like there's someone out there
that's, you know, in my position, that was, that's in my
position, that I used to be in,and you know they're struggling
(26:13):
and I look at it day by day,that you know every day is a new
opportunity and that can alwayshelp them out.
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Absolutely so.
Do you do the personal trainingon the side like your own
little business?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Yes, I do it on the side of low business.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Yes, Do you have a website or a page that people
can go to to work with you?
Speaker 2 (26:45):
The page, the page people can go to is my social
media.
Okay, Instagram, Twitter,YouTube.
You name it all After CharlesC-A-S-T-E-R-A-C-H-A-R-L-E-S.
(27:06):
You want me to spell that again?
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Nope, I'm fast, awesome.
Yeah, I'll definitely put thaton the.
What I do is I do a page like asummary for each guest, so I
will put that on your page sopeople can find you.
But the story is amazing and soinspiring.
(27:30):
Wow, I mean, you've beenthrough so much thank you, I
really appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
And the thing I always ask what people looking
for like advice.
You know, I always tell themthe best thing you can do
survive and thrive.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
That is awesome and I do um.
If anyone wants the merch, I dohave them at this website
called Millions.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
I saw that you got hoodies and hats and t-shirts.
I saw all that.
I'm going to put that websiteon there too, because that's a
proud t-shirt to wear.
It really is.
Thank you so, as we wrap up,what else would you like our
(28:32):
viewers to know?
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I would like them to know the funny story.
I did not mention it, but sowhen I first arrived here to
America, so when I first arrivedhere to America, I ate these
(28:59):
huge block of cheese.
You know, one night that Idecided to sneak out of my room,
you know, because I wasthinking, you know, now I have
all the food, I can eat AnythingI want, I ate all the cheese.
And the next day I couldn't goto the bathroom.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
You ate all the cheese.
What did your mom say, oh, mygosh I hope you learned your
lesson and you did, I learned mylesson.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
There were also times where I was super full and just
kept overeating and my dadwould say I told you not to get
any more plates, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Can't help it.
What is your favorite food nowin America?
Speaker 2 (29:54):
I like Chipotle.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
All the athletes eat there.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
That's great.
So survive and thrive.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Survive and thrive.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Besides basketball that you were coaching and being
a personal trainer.
How?
What else do you?
How do you reach the youngercommunity besides that, just on
your social media platforms?
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Yeah, and I'm also writing a book about my life too
, so oh wow, that is amazing.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Please let me know when it's finished so I can put
that all over the place, Becauseyour story is so unique and
people are going to stop and say, wait what?
They will definitely buy thisbook.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Definitely, will definitely buy this book.
I feel like you know, with thestory.
I feel like I feel like it doesget noticed, you know, but at
the same time I feel like itdoesn't get out there to enough
people.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
you know, right for sure, and I wrote a book called
Turning Pain Into Strength, andI wrote a book called Turning
Pain into Strength because Ibroke my back.
I mean, I just had to do apodcast so that other people can
tell their stories and inspirepeople.
So I appreciate you so much.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Thank you.
That is inspiring 13 surgery Icould never picture that, you
know.
Yeah, it made me stronger.
You survived inside.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
I did, I did and you keep continuing.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
It continues.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Cass, this was a great.
I'm so glad I got to meet youyou make the world such a better
place.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Thank you, I appreciate that.
And also, you know you justtold me that story, realize.
You know I'm grateful.
You know that I've never hadback problems and you know I'm
sure it still doesn't feel rightto this day, but at the same
time it's like a blessing thatyou, you know you are able to
(32:08):
walk and do what you want withthe podcast, you know yes, very
fortunate, and it's great thatwe can see our lives for the
better, and then we take thatgift that we have and then we
try to help others.
Try our best, you know.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Well, cass, before we wrap upthe interview, any last things
you want to say, besides yourcheese story?
Speaker 2 (32:44):
first arrived to Ohio , I hated the snow and I hated
the cold.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
I bet.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
As soon as I saw that , I, you know, freaked out.
I was not expecting that,because, being born in Haiti, I
was used to the heat, and that'swhat you know led me to St
Augustine, florida today I'm onthe other side of you.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
I'm on Cape Coral.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Oh really, I mean actually funny.
I um I have a one of myGallaudet teammates is in Cape
Coral and you know um I went tovisit over on.
Yeah, new use yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Wow, small world.
Well, like I said, cass cas,you are amazing, absolutely
amazing.
I know everyone is proud of youand I know your story is going
to inspire other people, andthank you so much thank you for
having me all right, will youtake care of yourself?
(34:05):
Thank, you all right cas.
Have a good rest of your week.
So tell me about yourself.
I know that you were born inHaiti, yes, and let's start with
your childhood and we'll savethe best for last.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Sounds good to me.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Okay, so you were born in Haiti.
Did you have brothers andsisters?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yes, I had many brothers and sisters from my
biological family okay, okay,now did.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Did they come over with you?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
no, they did not.
They're still in Haiti.
My one sister is in France now.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Okay, okay, do you keep in touch with her?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, a little bit.
And then I used to for a whilelike keep in touch with my
brother in Haiti, but I haven'theard from him in a while.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Okay, so tell me what your childhood was like.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
My childhood in Haiti was a big struggle, you know,
with malnutrition, sickness,disability that I didn't know
about, not know my biologicalfamily living in the streets,
(01:24):
but one day getting captured inthe child slavery, which is
known as modern day slavery inHaiti, where people are forced
to work and they don't getrewarded nothing.
It's just them, you know,sleeping on floors, getting beat
(01:47):
and doing things against theirwill.
You know right now.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Does this start with children?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
yes, it does start with kids, you know so at the
time I was about three years oldwhen I got into child slavery,
and so I got captured from thestreet and then after that, I
was branded on my left arm righthere.
(02:17):
I don't know how well you cansee it Still have it to this day
, and I was forced to work wow,now did every child or adult get
branded.
I think so.
(02:37):
Yeah, okay to keep track ofwho's who you know.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Wow, and you thought this was normal in your life at
that time.
Yeah, wow, wow.
So how did you get over here?
Tell me that part.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
So the missionary rescued me and then put me in an
orphanage.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
She rescued me for 60 bucks, by the way, in US
dollars, if you were curiousabout that and then after that,
Dollars $50, yep.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Wow Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Then what happened was, at that time, a family in
Ohio was looking into adoptionand they looked and saw, you
know, haiti, and the firstpicture I guess that popped up
(03:43):
was a picture of me smiling, andmy mom tells me to this day
that's one of the reasons sheadopted me.
And then, you know, they wantedto add to the family and, um,
they were they also.
You know, they also like,manage, manage it very well, you
(04:06):
know, just working with kidsthat have disabilities or
struggles, you know, in thisstory, Wow, so how old were you
when you came to?
America in 2005 of December 29th, and I was about six years old
(04:30):
at the time.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wow, you remember that date really easily.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I do.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
What was the first thing you did when you came to
America?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
The first thing I did was meet my adoptive family,
and then I had my first Americanmeal, which was pizza.
It was large.
Ate it all by myself.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Oh, a large pizza.
Oh my gosh, that had to beamazing.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Oh, best feeling in the world, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
For sure, for sure.
So did you share the house witha brother, stepbrothers and
stepsisters then, or were youthe only child?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
you the only child?
No, so so um, they have twobiological daughters of theirs
in the family.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
They're both.
They're both about 10 yearsolder than me.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Okay, so did they just take you under their wing
and take care of you.
Yeah, they did, but I didn't,didn't?
You know, since they're a lotolder than me, I didn't really
get to be around that muchbecause it was, you know, going
into elementary school.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
They were in high school and then, you know, yeah,
for sure, high school is awhole different world and then
they weren't on the college, youknow so how was it in school?
Because I read that you were um.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
You didn't like school so much yeah, I've never
well, because I struggle withlearning things and I think
people don't understand that.
You know okay you can't justtalk to me into something.
You have to visually or hand on, show me something, and not
(06:37):
only that, but I think thatpeople lose like patience with
like having to repeat themselves.
You know not understanding.
You know my background wow.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
So you went to grammar school in america right
like first grade.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
So I went.
So I went to an all-hearingwhite school in America.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
How was that?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I mean, it was a big struggle for me, you know.
First thing, you know, justlike when I arrived to America
learning how to use the bathroom, because in Miami I peed in a
(07:32):
planter because I didn't knowhow to use the bathroom- oh, wow
.
So my parents both you know hadlearned that, you know, know I
needed some work and they knewwhen they came to school that I
was going to struggle with likecommunication, because english
(07:55):
is not my first language rightsaw that you know, um, I would
not be motivated about school,and you know that I didn't know
how to play with other kids myage and I had trouble with
(08:16):
focusing.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Okay, so like an ADHD .
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah.
Learning disability yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Wow, so we're done with grammar school.
And then you went into highschool.
Mm-hmm yeah, okay, so were youplaying sports as a freshman?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yes, so I started playing sports when I arrived to
America Soccer, for I don'tthink long.
And then I did baseball for ayear before middle school, then
got into basketball and thenfootball came around, middle
(08:58):
school, where I scored my firsttouchdown oh, that was it that
changed my moment.
That changed my moment, you know, of how I saw things and it
helped me improve of who I wasas a person and working just
harder in school and real life.
(09:20):
And then I did track to likehelp me with my speed in
football and that led me tobeing motivated to one to
continue to play football inhigh school and at the college
level football in high schooland at the college level Wow.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Did you understand how big?
It was to be chosen forfootball in the college?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yes, okay, good Opportunity.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Right, right.
So how did that start?
Did a scout see you or did youtry out Like, how did that work?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
all the way through high school just writing letters
to coaches, okay, in theconnection.
And then one day, my senioryear of high school, I got a dm
(10:43):
on twitter from the Gallaudetfootball coach.
Let me know that he wasinterested and Gallaudet is a
deaf, hard of hearing school.
Because I've always been hardof hearing my whole life, people
would think I accepted theoffer.
But at the same time I was,like you know, hesitate on it
because I was so, you know, usedto the hearing world.
(11:07):
Even though I have hearing aids, I read lips, you know, I was
still just used to the hearingworld.
Never have I been in the deafcommunity or had the opportunity
.
I didn't know about it yet.
But also, the thing that reallyhelped me was that I got
(11:31):
support from my adoptive familyas well to help lead me to the
opportunity.
So I went on a few visits toGallaudet, still was not sure
and you know, not really havingdiversity, I decided that was
(11:53):
the best opportunity for me, youknow, to continue to survive
and thrive and show that I cando anything I put in my heart to
you know.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Yeah, that is huge, because how many people would
have just given up on life?
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I think a lot of people.
You could sit there in thecorner and feel sorry for
yourself and do nothing rightbecause you get a no but at the
same time, I didn't let my Haitistory or you know the struggles
(12:33):
I've had with lack of diversity.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Wow, no, you have not , that is for sure.
I mean, you are such aninspiration.
By just watching your footballtapes, it's amazing.
Now was everybody on the teamdeaf?
Deaf, yes, so okay, some peoplewere deaf.
(13:09):
Um, some are hard of hearing.
A few are hearing okay so how?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
how did the coach coach this?
So the coach is hearing thecoach um, he uses sign language.
You know, the first time hearrived at Gallaudet he didn't
know sign either, and we just helearned.
We just helped him learn right,and now it's all good.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Right and the team accepted you because you're one
of their own.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Yes, I'm one of them.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
That's wonderful.
So were there any struggles onthe team?
I mean, or did you just becomea superstar right away?
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Um, there were.
There was a lot of struggles.
Honestly, you know I've learnedover the years.
You know I thought you know noteveryone will see you as them.
So first time going toGallaudet I really struggled
(14:28):
because I was not great withsign language.
I never learned it before.
I never learned it before andyou know, learning about the
deaf community I learned that.
You know they can be friendlypeople but not all of them are
friendly.
(14:48):
They're still negative in theirdrama gossip.
You know you just got to watchdeaf you.
But at the same time thepositive that helped me so much
struggle was there were peoplethat's been signed in a long
time, that understood me.
That helped learn more aboutthe Deaf culture.
(15:11):
I mean, just learning about theDeaf culture was great for me
and learning sign language wasgreat for me and just making new
friends that can relate, youknow.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Yes, absolutely.
So you went on and you playedamazing, played amazing you.
I mean, you were like the topguy, you were the guy.
So did you play all four yearsof college?
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yes, I did play all four years of college.
Now, you know, in college Iwill tell you that you know,
going there you can be the starof your team from high school,
middle school, it doesn't matter.
But it's a whole new ball gameand you know I had to compete
(16:23):
with a lot of people, you know,and sometimes I had my moments
where I got a lot ofopportunities and then there
were a lot of time where I gotlack of opportunities, you know,
and also you know the injurydidn't help either and just lack
of opportunity didn't reallyhelp.
But at the end of the day, I Idid my best, even though I may
not have been the best player onthe team.
But I think the thing that mademe stood out was I was using my
(16:50):
story to inspire people.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Now that's wonderful and everyone, I'm sure sure has
been really receptive to thatstory and inspired wow, I mean,
that's just.
That's a lot of goodness inyour heart.
So um did, how do you start outtelling your story when you
(17:17):
meet somebody, like on thefootball team?
At what point do you say I'vereally struggled in my childhood
and then tell your story?
Speaker 2 (17:29):
I just tell them.
You know like I try to keep itshort even though it's a long
story, but I just went throughpoverty in haiti and you know,
just go to that.
The missionary rescued me.
Then I got adopted in america,struggling with being hard of
(17:52):
hearing.
You know, just the opportunityto get in to play football, you
know just the opportunity to getin to play football.
Mm-hmm, I just let them knowthat.
Hey, you know I struggle with alot of things.
I'm sure you have too, and I'mhere to share my story If you
(18:16):
want to, if you feel like you'renot in the right moment or the
right place.
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Right, and I'm sure there's just a lot of boys that
look up to you.
That's got to make you feel sogood.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
It does make me feel good, you know.
Just the opportunity, you know,to be able to have people come
up to me, just knowing the story, telling me that they've heard
of the story makes me feel goodand that they're inspired.
At the end of the day, it'sgreat.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Yeah, absolutely Absolutely.
So you said you had injuries.
Is that in football you gotinjured?
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Yeah, it started with high school.
My freshman year I had ankleinjury.
My sophomore year I made itthrough healthy.
My junior year I had hamstringinjuries and then I also had an
(19:24):
ankle injury as well too.
And then senior year of highschool, I was good um.
Freshman year of college, I wasgood.
My sophomore year I struggledwith a little bit of injury from
track season okay and um andthrough the hamstring.
(19:48):
Junior year not really muchfrom the lack of opportunity.
Then my senior year, you know Iwas, you know, getting ready
for a big year and I was excited.
You know I was not the main guybut I was having fun,
(20:11):
practicing well.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You know, played in a few games before that and then
I had a blood clot that ended myfootball career.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
How did you know you had a blood clot?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
career.
How did you know?
You had a blood clot During themiddle of the season?
During the middle of the seasonI was running a, and you know,
(20:59):
then I sat out practice and thenthe next day practiced again.
Then we had a bus ride that wassupposed to be like I don't
know five, six hours long, andyou know, I was sitting there I
was still feeling somethingweird, and then I tried to play
(21:24):
in the game and I was just slow,not moving at all, and so then
you know, I got taken out of thegame, and after that, you know,
I had another long bus rideback to Gallaudet.
I evaluated the next day, foundout that my right leg was bigger
than my left leg and my calf mycalf.
(21:52):
And so I had to go to thedoctors and they found out I had
a blood clot and that Icouldn't, you know, work out for
a while or, you know, playfootball.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Wow, are you on blood thinners?
Now for that.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Finished with it awesome, awesome that.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That is terrifying it is gay wow, and at any point
through all these setbacks, youcould have given up, right.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I could have.
I could have.
I could have said you know, Idon't want to coach sports or,
you know, be a personal trainer.
But at the end of the day, youknow, I may not be playing
football, but at the end of theday, I'm still inspiring people
through coaching and fitness.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Right, tell me about that.
You're coaching basketball.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Yeah, yeah, so I'm coaching basketball.
So you know, my senior year ofcollege I was looking for job
opportunities, thought about itand you know I looked at mostly
Florida, because that's where alot of my families are diversity
(23:16):
, the deaf community and beingcloser to Haiti, because I was
born in Haiti.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
And so you know.
Then I got the job opportunityafter applying for two months
and found out that FSDB, floridaSchool for the Deaf and Blind,
wanted me and I was an assistantteacher, which I was not a fan
(23:47):
of just was not my thing.
Which I was not a fan of, justwas not my thing.
But I loved the coaching part,though Coaching the deaf school
was fun.
And then, you know, throughthat time I was able to inspire
many deaf, hard-of-hearing kidsat FSDB part of hearing kids at.
(24:09):
FSDB.
After that I moved on and nowI'm working at the YMCA coaching
basketball, helping with thewellness floor, personal
training and the kid zone.
You know, just making the bestof it.
(24:29):
And you know I just had my lastgame yesterday with the kids
and they were all inspired andloved that.
I coached them and they, youknow, told me that after they
found out about my story, notonly them but the parents who
were our biggest supportersduring the season, you know,
(24:52):
showed some love and it wasgreat.
And you know, just seeing thatmakes me also feel, you know,
inspired too.
The kids inspired me.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Yeah, that's really sweet.
I know they will love to hearthat.
Now you're so positive and youjust radiate this amazing energy
At any time.
Did you struggle like withdepression?
Like why me?
Or were you always thispositive?
Like why me?
(25:28):
Or?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
were you always this positive?
There's been times you knowwhere I struggled with, like you
know, with like stress through,like college football, you know
, lack of opportunity.
Or you know high school, whereI was in an all white hearing
school.
You know I struggled with that.
(25:52):
But other than that, you know,I don't really think of it as
why me a lot, because I know,like there's someone out there
that's, you know, in my position, that was, that's in my
position, that I used to be in,and you know they're struggling
(26:13):
and I look at it day by day,that you know every day is a new
opportunity and that can alwayshelp them out.
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Absolutely so.
Do you do the personal trainingon the side like your own
little business?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Yes, I do it on the side of low business.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Yes, Do you have a website or a page that people
can go to to work with you?
Speaker 2 (26:45):
The page, the page people can go to is my social
media.
Okay, Instagram, Twitter,YouTube.
You name it all After CharlesC-A-S-T-E-R-A-C-H-A-R-L-E-S.
(27:06):
You want me to spell that again?
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Nope, I'm fast, awesome.
Yeah, I'll definitely put thaton the.
What I do is I do a page like asummary for each guest, so I
will put that on your page sopeople can find you.
But the story is amazing and soinspiring.
(27:30):
Wow, I mean, you've beenthrough so much thank you, I
really appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
And the thing I always ask what people looking
for like advice.
You know, I always tell themthe best thing you can do
survive and thrive.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
That is awesome and I do um.
If anyone wants the merch, I dohave them at this website
called Millions.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
I saw that you got hoodies and hats and t-shirts.
I saw all that.
I'm going to put that websiteon there too, because that's a
proud t-shirt to wear.
It really is.
Thank you so, as we wrap up,what else would you like our
(28:32):
viewers to know?
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I would like them to know the funny story.
I did not mention it, but sowhen I first arrived here to
America, so when I first arrivedhere to America, I ate these
(28:59):
huge block of cheese.
You know, one night that Idecided to sneak out of my room,
you know, because I wasthinking, you know, now I have
all the food, I can eat AnythingI want, I ate all the cheese.
And the next day I couldn't goto the bathroom.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
You ate all the cheese.
What did your mom say, oh, mygosh I hope you learned your
lesson and you did, I learned mylesson.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
There were also times where I was super full and just
kept overeating and my dadwould say I told you not to get
any more plates, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Can't help it.
What is your favorite food nowin America?
Speaker 2 (29:54):
I like Chipotle.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
All the athletes eat there.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
That's great.
So survive and thrive.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Survive and thrive.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Besides basketball that you were coaching and being
a personal trainer.
How?
What else do you?
How do you reach the youngercommunity besides that, just on
your social media platforms?
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Yeah, and I'm also writing a book about my life too
, so oh wow, that is amazing.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Please let me know when it's finished so I can put
that all over the place, Becauseyour story is so unique and
people are going to stop and say, wait what?
They will definitely buy thisbook.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Definitely, will definitely buy this book.
I feel like you know, with thestory.
I feel like I feel like it doesget noticed, you know, but at
the same time I feel like itdoesn't get out there to enough
people.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
you know, right for sure, and I wrote a book called
Turning Pain Into Strength, andI wrote a book called Turning
Pain into Strength because Ibroke my back.
I mean, I just had to do apodcast so that other people can
tell their stories and inspirepeople.
So I appreciate you so much.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Thank you.
That is inspiring 13 surgery Icould never picture that, you
know.
Yeah, it made me stronger.
You survived inside.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
I did, I did and you keep continuing.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
It continues.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Cass, this was a great.
I'm so glad I got to meet youyou make the world such a better
place.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Thank you, I appreciate that.
And also, you know you justtold me that story, realize.
You know I'm grateful.
You know that I've never hadback problems and you know I'm
sure it still doesn't feel rightto this day, but at the same
time it's like a blessing thatyou, you know you are able to
(32:08):
walk and do what you want withthe podcast, you know yes, very
fortunate, and it's great thatwe can see our lives for the
better, and then we take thatgift that we have and then we
try to help others.
Try our best, you know.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Well, cass, before we wrap upthe interview, any last things
you want to say, besides yourcheese story?
Speaker 2 (32:44):
first arrived to Ohio , I hated the snow and I hated
the cold.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
I bet.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
As soon as I saw that , I, you know, freaked out.
I was not expecting that,because, being born in Haiti, I
was used to the heat, and that'swhat you know led me to St
Augustine, florida today I'm onthe other side of you.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
I'm on Cape Coral.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Oh really, I mean actually funny.
I um I have a one of myGallaudet teammates is in Cape
Coral and you know um I went tovisit over on.
Yeah, new use yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Wow, small world.
Well, like I said, cass cas,you are amazing, absolutely
amazing.
I know everyone is proud of youand I know your story is going
to inspire other people, andthank you so much thank you for
having me all right, will youtake care of yourself?
(34:05):
Thank, you all right cas.
Have a good rest of your week.
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