BYRON YOUNG ON GUAM FOR FOOTBALL CAMP

By Paradis Jolie Fejerang

For Byron Young, the journey to Guam is already almost so memorable and he is already looking forward to meeting everyone for the reason he came – to host an NFL Football ProCamp this weekend at Andersen Air Force Base. Young will be welcoming boys and girls ages 6-14 who are dependents of active-duty service members, retirees, and Department of Defense civilian employees.

As of now, it has just been about the journey to and enjoying what he has seen of Guam thus far. “It’s been great – traveling,” Young says with a laugh, joking that somewhere along the way he managed to skip an entire day (passing the International Dateline). Leaving on a Wednesday, he didn’t arrive on island until Friday, but despite the whirlwind travel schedule, the Los Angeles Rams linebacker was all smiles as he took in the island.

Sitting down for Friday lunch at the stunning Puntan Dos Amantes, Young reflects on his early impressions of the island.

“The food has been really good,” he stated. “I’ve been looking around, doing a little bit of exploring. Definitely loving the story and the history behind a lot of stuff, but I’m just thankful to be here.”

As for the camp, it seems Young found it to be a natural fit when the idea to travel to Guam came up. “Honestly, my agent brought it to my attention, and I have a lot of military ties and a lot of family in the military,” Young shared. Two things stood out to him, the connection to the military and how he understands what it means to come from a place where exposure isn’t always guaranteed.

While football is the focus of the camp, Young made it clear that the experience – and the lessons – go far beyond the field.

“Just that adversity does happen in sports,” he shared as a goal for what he wants the young athletes to take away from his time with them.

“Everything is not going to go your way, and that’s okay – that’s what happened to me. Go for whatever you want to go for. A lot of people are going to doubt you…not believe in what you believe in or see the vision you see, but it’s okay.”

– NFL player Byron Young

For Young, belief is the common thread no matter the dream. “As long as you believe and you wholeheartedly want to have the mindset, you can be whatever you want to be,” he said. “Whether a schoolteacher, college professor, or in the military – when people say, ‘Oh, you aren’t big enough or strong enough or tough enough,’ that’s okay. As long as you believe in it, you can do it.”

That same sense of inspiration struck Young as he took in the view – and the meaning – behind Puntan Dos Amantes. Among the thousands of love locks and messages left behind, one memory stood out.

“I saw a quote three or four years ago that said, ‘Don’t be afraid to be yourself,’ and it really stuck with me.” Seeing so many messages from people across the world, all leaving pieces of themselves behind, resonated deeply with Young.

Seeing that much inspiration on Guam seems to have truly reignited inspiration for himself. Young shares that seeing little notes of happiness from people all over the world gathered together here on Guam might be what takes the number one spot as his favorite part of his trip to the island as he added that on top of that, the legends behind so much of the island such as the Two Lovers is ‘very cool’ – already sticking out as significant of his travels.

Though being an NFL player and mentor for this weekend’s camp, Young doesn’t see himself as the only teacher.“I love working with kids, so I’d love for the athletes who come to the camp to teach me stuff,” he said. “They’re picking my brain, and I’m picking their brain – that’s really what I’m most excited for.”

He added that every visit to schools – especially his old elementary school – reminds him just how much kids have to offer. “I feel like the kids teach me more than I teach them,” he states. “It’s just so fun.”

Community involvement, Young explained, is deeply personal. As a kid, he once viewed professional athletes as almost untouchable. “When I saw my first NFL player, I really thought it was crazy,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it – as if there were only certain people that could do that.”

Now, he hopes to be more than just a figure of admiration. “I see this kind of thing as a resource,” Young shares. “I want to be a resource for these kids. I want to be someone they can talk to.”

More than anything, he wants kids to leave the camp feeling empowered – on and off the field. “It’s not just all about football,” he said. “It’s about giving the kids motivation and making them feel powerful and confident in whatever they do.”

As he looks ahead to meeting the young athletes this weekend, Young is grateful for the opportunity and eager to connect. Even for those who may not be able to attend, his message remains simple: “Believe in yourself and be confident…Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.”