DONOVAN VARNER
Est. October 20th, 1989
Being a Miami native, former football player, and graduate of Duke University I could be perceived as a guy who has it all. I have been blessed in my short 24 years with opportunity, passion, family and the persistence to get it right. My mother has always said to me that I’ve been hustling since birth, by always having a plan of action with an enterprising character and ambitious behaviors. Growing up, I learned several lessons and went through several struggles with my family dynamic.
and not be consumed by it. It has been my everyday motivation to get it right. I was given the opportunity to attend college, which no one in my immediate family has done. I was offered a scholarship to one of the top 10 schools in the country to do what I love, and at the time, what I believed I was best at, football. I never took this for granted. Growing up in an impoverished neighborhood it is easy to fall victim to your surroundings. Instead I viewed it as a blessing and could only imagine how many people dreamed of this type of opportunity.
During high school my 15-year-old best friend and teammate (Ralei Sealey) drowned in front of me as we were swimming to a regatta boat party in Key Biscayne, Florida. One year later I received a phone call from my mother that two of my childhood best friends had been killed as a result of gun violence. Aside from the pain that I dealt with, I had to learn that the majority of things that happen in life are things you can’t control. I chose to embrace the obstacles life had put in my path and continued my journey at Duke University where I excelled on and off the field. I had a stellar career as a wide receiver and I received academic accolades in all my time at Duke, where I graduated in 3 and a half years.
My childhood dream was to play in the NFL, and although I never did, I found this to be a blessing in disguise. Football was all I knew my whole life. It was my passion, my heart and my better half. Life after football forced me to be humble, and in return, I set out on a new path to find my passion. To prove to myself that I am more than a football player. I have met an abundance of positive people on this journey. Everyday has been a growing process and in this time I have learned a lot about myself. This journey has exercised my mental toughness in many ways. I have taken the lessons I learned on the field and have applied them to my everyday life. Practice makes permanent and I find the positive in every situation. I channeled my struggles and pains into my LYFEGASM. What’s your why?
My mother is African-American, born in Seattle and my father is a California-born white American. My parents went through several hardships to keep their relationship alive. My father had to leave his home and give up his college education to stay with my mom.
30 years and two sons later the sacrifice and determination was all worth it. Their marriage and love for each other has made me the man I am today. The amount of lessons I have learned are plentiful. Beginning with judgment, I understand the pain that judgment can bring to an individuals life. I have built the resilience to handle those who judge me. It has given me the perfect platform to rise above all negativity