Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Summers.
Hi Jack, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story comes from humble beginnings. In 1996, I was born in Tver, Russia, a small city located about 45 minutes northwest of Moscow. My birthmother, who knew she could not provide me the life I deserved, gave me a chance at life by giving me up for adoption by leaving me in a hospital bed and disappearing into the night. As a result, I was placed into an orphanage and put up for adoption. Seven months later, an incredible couple, who couldn’t have children of their own, adopted me along with my older sister. I was very sick after coming to the United States and was told by one physician that I would face severe developmental and cognitive delays that would affect me throughout life. My adoptive mother Amy, who is a Nurse Practitioner, told the doctor that all I needed was love and time. Come to find out, my mom was right and I credit both my parents for providing me the opportunity to excel in life. Fast forward to my life today where I have successfully graduated college with an undergraduate degree in English and Journalism in 2020, worked as a journalist for two and a half years after graduating, launched my own clothing brand called TVER Apparel, and most recently began a career as a flight attendant. I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my parents and family. This is general overview of my story and how I got to where I am today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Overall, I would say that it has been a fairly smooth road, although life has thrown some curve balls my way that I have had to deal with and challenges I have had to overcome as a result. Some of the struggles I have had to overcome include:
– Taking six years instead of four to attain my undergraduate degree
– Personal financial struggles while learning how to become fully independent from my parents after college
– Challenges in learning how to start and run my own business
– Changing careers to become a flight attendant and moving across the country on my own for the very first time
– Learning the importance of mental health and knowing when its okay to ask for help when needed
As you know, we’re big fans of TVER Apparel. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I launched a streetwear-style clothing brand called TVER Apparel in 2020 that is sold exclusively online. I started the brand as a way to share my life story which is the inspiration behind the brand and it pays homage to where I began in life. I think what sets me as well as my brand apart from others is the story behind the brand and why I want it to be successful. I believe that no matter where you come from or how your life begins that any challenge can be overcome with the right tools and attitude to achieve anything in life. You define your own success. Brand-wise, I am most proud of the fact that I was able to take my love of clothing and fashion and use my own life experiences to influence the aesthetic of the brand and put a part of myself into every piece that is sold. The brand is relatively new as it is not even three years old yet, and I have so many ideas about what I want to do with the brand and the direction I want to head in with it. Eventually, I would like to be able to set it up to where a portion of every sale supports a local orphanage in some way because I am one of five kids in my family and we are all adopted so it would mean a lot to me to be able to give back in that way.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
For me, I see taking a risk as an opportunity for growth. I can say that I have taken many risks in my life and even though not all of them have paid off, the ones that have certainly were beneficial for my personal growth. I have taken risks both in my personal and professional life. One of the biggest risks I recently took was changing careers going from being a journalist to becoming a flight attendant. This was by far one of the best decisions I have ever made because it allowed me to pursue my passion for travel and has allowed to hear other people’s stories which brings me joy. In terms of how I view risk, I value risk and believe it is one of the only ways we can truly grow as individuals all while allowing us to satisfy our natural human curiosities about the world we live in.
Pricing:
- $25-65
Contact Info:
- Website: tverapparel.com
- Instagram: @tverapparel
- Facebook: facebook.com/tverapparel
Image Credits
Jack Summers, Alexander Meisel
