My own experiences

I've always considered myself a leader, somebody who has the aura and, if you will swagger, to inspire others to take notice and follow. I've had plenty of experiences in my life that have given me some insight of this ability, and that have revealed who I am and what I have just a little bit. All of these things have been able to sort of reveal where I would like to go in life. They sort of open paths that I didn't previously believe possible. I'd have to say that in the long run, these experiences have made me who I am sort of, and I can't say I'm not proud of it.

One of these experiences came in my freshman year of high school. It was a Friday, and all of the Seniors of course feel the need to act big to all of the lower classes. Medford High isn't much of a school for discrimination, nor is it a place of many differences. This one Friday, however, was "Freshman Friday" which called for all of the upperclassmen to bully and haze any freshman they could find. It really wasn't all that present, as all of the seniors were likely afraid of getting suspended or reprimanded for that kind of behavior. However, during the sixth and last period, a fight broke out between a Freshman and one of the seniors. The Freshman was totally in the wrong as he baited the Senior to fight him. Before you knew it fists were flying in the hallways between a few people, and I followed by a few friends somehow broke it up untouched. It was crazy to think I just hopped in without really worrying about myself, but what was crazier is how many people followed me in.

Another time came when my friends and I were on a train to the Boston Commons to just hang out and enjoy the one day off we had been granted in so long. The day took a crazy twist when a young kid walked on and got his nylon hoodie stuck in the door. It was kind of a shock to me, because I figured that something like that couldn't happen because of how the doors have sensors and are operated. I quickly noticed how he couldn't move forward, and struggled to break free. I yelled for someone to pull the emergency stop, and after quickly tried to free the kid from his jacket before he suffocated. It was choking him and had the train moved, and had his hood somehow got caught on something, the scene could have went down hill real fast. Anyways, a couple of good Samaritans and people wondering where his mother was later, and the kid was free, and as was the jacket. It really bugged me that it took myself to get everyone to notice and be concerned,

My last experience came during my senior year, when the trip to Punta Cana was being organized. I was, to everybody's surprise, not an organizer. On the other hand, however, I recruited more people to go on the trip than any single organizer we had. I basically got the Senior class together and, while it wasn't exactly a speech, I gave a quick talk to everybody as to why they should go on it. All in all, I basically got everyone together, and reminded them how in Medford, the way the school system works is that everybody is basically in the same class and grade from pre-k to high school, and that it would be a great way to go out with a bang. All of those people, whether they know it or not motivated each other to be the way they are, influenced many if not all of their actions and behaviors, and caused them to be who they are today. I figured it would be the last time we could all definitely see each other and represent Medford. Overall, from all of these experiences, I learned, and I really do mean this, that I have what it takes to lead and gather people to a certain cause, whether something small, or something with a lot of meaning.

The Worst Job Ever

It all started out about a year ago

I came through to a place for a slice with my bro

I never thought I'd be behind the counter
employed with the people that I had found here

Two weeks later they tried to let me know
its 8 dollars an hour plus tips joe
joe? who the hell is joe?
my name starts with a T and ends in a R
whatever they said go clean the bar

Now I don't get paid enough to take this bull
walk around cleaning tables asking are you full
may I take that from you?
another water? bread too?
I'm not your waiter sorry hun see you later

Management made no sense with their rules
no breaks at all well that's illegal fool
I hardly pull 100 a night man that ain't cool

Now they're using the companies money for themselves
bringing home gifts and ringing the jingle bells
we don't even get the food free
stealing our money going out on shopping sprees
well a few weeks ago we caught one slipping
in the stores' safe taking 9k you're tripping

He was the nicest one of them too
with that type of money 'round what are you gonna do

He was always lenient with his employees
while the other ones acting stiffer than a oak tree

We always hear it even when the managers are at fault
even when the dude got caught head in the fault
people are quitting from their own dismay
but this is just the job I work everyday

Power

Every person on the planet experiences power whether they know it or not. Sometimes the power is lost, sometimes it is gained, sometimes it was always there, and sometimes it is trained. During a basketball game early on in my life, I exhibited what felt like the most limitless power I have ever known. The feeling came to me the moment the game started, on the very first shot I took. I was apart of an inter-city league team that was pretty damn good and I was pretty proud to be apart of. We came across our last game that despite our record, was considered a must win. Basically, the game starts, I walk up the court with an isolation play in the works, get myself open, and bang, three. My "power" in basketball has always been the ability to lose defenders, make them miss, and 'break their ankles' so to speak. This day, was probably the best day I'd ever had in terms of that. I had almost made every other kid on the team fall, so at this point they were a little hesitant to play up so close to me, giving me the space and ability to just keep shooting at will. My teammates were also able to get open as freely as they wished on that day, so we kept on scoring and assisting each other, all the way to a 78-22 win to start our playoff run. I felt like I was in a dream, literally. Every little thing was so easy that it just felt like I was on autopilot, and felt like I had all of the power in the world.

During my sophomore year in high school, I was playing a little game of football, which was going great, up until the point where I had exhibited my first true loss of power. My team was up a few touchdowns, so we were playing very lackadaisically. Unfortunately for me, what came next was awful. I began to call the snap when I realized that there were way too many men in the box for it not to be a blitz, so when the ball reached my hands, I scrambled. Long story short, I got sandwiched between one kid who was twice my size, and another rather large rough object known as the ground. All in all, I had to be brought to the hospital only to find out that my clavicle was snapped so bad it almost came out of my neck. This caused me to miss my sophomore season of basketball, and with that plenty of fun things to do. This made me feel not only left out, but useless, like a pencil snapped in half. It was in that moment where not only I realized what it felt like to break a bone, but what it truly felt like to experience a loss of power.

When it comes to strengthening my power(s), I put a lot of my free time into perfecting what I do. For one, I've mentioned over and over that I play sports, both football and basketball are what I love to do most. I also have mentioned how I pride myself in my ability and power to be a natural leader and to inspire those who come with me. When it comes to that last bit, it usually just involves experience and and the courage to boil up the words that are necessary to get someone going. I'm just good at that I guess. I'm a great speaker and on top of it an amazing people person. Anybody who knows me would tell you that. However, I take great pride in the countless hours I spend on the field, court, and in the gym working as hard as I do in order to get where I feel I NEED to go. If I mess something up, I do it over again. In my opinion its practice that is needed in order to harness, discover, and strengthen ones powers. There's a reason why people say practice makes perfect.

When I was a Limitless Child

When I was a Limitless Child

I ruled the world

I was able to do all of the things that humans couldn't

I was superman, batman and a jedi all in one

I was a NFL superstar Quarterback 

and I was a king

I was the MVP of the NBA 

and I ruled the ring

When I was a limitless child 

nobody could defeat my kingdom

all of the super powers in the world were mine to use

my imagination was a weapon of mass destruction

and my home was my base

When I was a limitless child I was head of the house

I made millions of dollars and had a dream spouse

When I was a limitless child my dreams were reality.

                                                                                                                 

            Dear Father, I am writing to you today to show a debt of thanks and gratitude to you for molding me to be the person that I am today. In every single persons life, every last person that they see, walk by and interact with whether for five seconds or five years has a significant impact on their life. You however, have done me a great service by being the single greatest impact on my life in so many different ways. It may seem odd that I'm writing you, and perhaps even more odd that I'm praising you, but it is all so that you may understand that you will have my gratitude forever for the ways that you have made me who I am today. I am forever grateful to you, and am forever in an non repayable debt that has existed and grown since the day I was born.  

            I could never tally the amount of lessons you've taught me, nor could I ever be able to amass such a quality of teachings in my lifetime. You've not only been a great father and taught me the moral rights and wrongs, but you've taught me what it takes to express and show those rights and wrongs. As a coach, you've taught me the fundamentals of both Football and Basketball, and have led me to so many victories, both on and off the court. I can still remember the first time we stepped on a Basketball court together. I remember the chill I got up my spine when I first picked up the ball and shot it, and especially during my first game. The light brown court was filled with loud squeaking and shouting from sneakers and players. The air had no smell to it, but was infinitely refreshing due to the open door in the gymnasium leading to the cold snowy grounds outside. I can remember the time that I fell into a pool when I was so young I couldn't count my age on both hands, and you jumped in and saved my life. There are so many favors and things you've done for me over the years that I simply cannot repay nor replicate. 

             Before you had taught me all that you have I was simply a boy. A boy that was naive and very young. I was thoughtless and with little to no inspiration. I had very few joys that weren't all in my own imagination and I had very little clue what an idol or mentor was let alone having one at all. Before you taught me all that you knew, I was a little Padawan to your Jedi Master. I was simply too young and too foolish to ever understand anything, and yet though I'm only eighteen, I am very proud in knowing that I am one of the more mature eighteen year olds out there. I always use the logic you taught me, I always stay disciplined both on and off the court, I always show respect, and more importantly I ALWAYS lead by example. You truly have shaped me into the athlete, thinker, and overall individual that I am today. From all of the little things you've taught me to the massive lessons you've drilled in my head, I thank you from now 'till forever.

I'll love ya forever,
Tyler.

Pops and I

from me to you

I know sometimes its not always easy to see

you're always up to those things you do

but I've always appreciated what you've done for me

which is why I'm writing this, from me to you

I know you're the athlete in the family

you taught me everything I knew

its hard to live up to what you want me to be

what you've done for me is more than I could ever do

You taught me how to be a true man

I guess chivalry will never die in your eyes

without manners, in your house I'd be banned

and you showed me how confidence is just a guise

Confidence was always the game plan

through practice is how I shall rise

without it I'm better off throwing my dreams in the can

"sportsmanship is what I can preach and advise"

I love all the possibilities you taught me to see

I couldn't repay you for being so true

being a leader in life is what is key

so dad I'd like to give praise, from me to you

And you showed me right from wrong

but only expect success if you fight all year long

You told me that I cannot ever give up

that an non acted on dream is sleep

no matter whether afar, or close up

only if you act, those blessings will you reap

And of all the things, you told me remember three

dream on, be yourself and forever fight through

things are always bigger than you and me

So thank you once again, as a mentor and a friend

Thats why I'm writing this poem, from me to you.

I make smart, calculated plans for my future

I know that one day my decisions, actions and hard work will pay off.
maybe that day is tomorrow.
all of my days are dedicated to my future.
kites and planes cannot reach the goals I've set for myself.
every minute I spent dreaming however, is a moment I could be living that dream.
so from now until the day I have every little thing I want and need, I must push
myself.
always
running in
the right direction, and this
college is where I begin that first true step to my plan.
a person
like myself
can never allow himself to go
under his own radar.
life is
already full of
things that are meant to
eat at you,
distract you and
put you down, which is why in
life you must slowly
and carefully figure out what is
necessary for your future.
suffering is necessary
for when you suffer, you cannot fall any further.
or perhaps it is when you suffer that you can
rake your path.
maybe all
you have ever needed is to  
figure out your future ahead of time.
underlining ones goals is key
to truly
unlocking the hidden path of success and
riches, and perhaps
eventually when ones path is cleared, one will see themselves living their own dream.

I am Tyler Bradley Grondin, and I come from a good sized town known as Medford, Massachusetts. Medford is a part of the Greater Boston Area, and thus is relatively close, about a 15 minute drive from Boston. I grew up as an only child with a family of relatives that were rather older than most of the kids relatives my age. I was babied all the way up until the end of my high school career, and was always spoiled with plenty of materialistic items as well as with love. I can say proudly that I have always excelled socially and athletically in my life from the moment I was a little kid, up until now. I always had a great deal of common sense and as some might say "street smarts", however despite being able to comprehend and do schoolwork with a great deal of ability, I never found the motivation to do anything in middle or high school. Fortunately, I have gained a great deal of self-purpose and motivation which brings me to where I am today, blogging here on the seventh of September.

Nice selfie of myself fresh for the post

I am an extremely laid back person. I love live, and never take it too seriously, mainly because things are meant to go wrong. I am a sports fanatic and follow just about every sport, mainly Basketball, Football, Soccer and Hockey. I'm the type of person whos television never leaves ESPN, unless its to watch a game on another channel. I love music, and love the theory of it just as much as listening to it. When it comes to free time, most of it is dedicated to getting my athleticism and skill in both Basketball and Football to new levels. I might as well live at Boston Sports Club, seeing as I'm either there, at work, or asleep most of the time. I love that feeling of getting better, becoming more and more skilled. Its sometimes a little weird, but its a great ambition of mine that I love.  

Felt bad for him after the move

 Most, if not all of my friends would jump to tell you that I am a very sarcastic, funny kid, who is an absolute perfectionist when it comes to things I'm interested in. This mostly causes myself to have such a drive and passion for training and getting better because I can never be perfect, nor can any human being. I am absolutely crazy and forever a comedian. I am super social and able to hold a conversation with anyone. Its very easy to see how witty I am according to my friends, despite the fact that I find most of them to be a lot wittier. My friends and family could easily tell you that I am a leader, it is something I am reminded of constantly. They've told me time in and time out that I just have an aura of confidence surrounding me at all times. I'd like to think I'm smooth, especially with my body language. I am an athlete, a clown, a fool and a genius all in one, but those are just the things that make me who I am.

Not my best snapchat work, but one of my latest masterpieces