Today we’d like to introduce you to April Sykes.
Hi April, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
From a Starkville, Mississippi attending a 1A school of less than 300 students and only 24 in my graduating class. Arguably the nation’s number 1/2 player in the class of 2008 coming out of high school. Rutgers University Graduate, all-Big East honors and academics, Professionally, drafted in the 2012 draft by the LA Sparks of the WNBA, played for the US Women’s National Basketball Team at the Pan Am Games and continued to play in pro leagues in Australia, Germany, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon and Mexico. Now a skill development trainer who works with draft prospects preparing them for training camp and overseas careers. I work with several male and female pros, children, and college players in the Atlanta area, providing mentorship to many players. Helping female players in the Atl area fulfill their goal to being a better professional.
For as long as I can remember, I loved the game of basketball. The game was oxygen and I was carbon dioxide it was as easy as breathing for me. God blessed me with a tremendous gift before I ever knew he did. I just loved the sound of the ball hitting the floor, shoes squeaking and how quiet it could be in your head when there’s so much more from the crowd! Basketball taught me Love, discipline, focus, passion and accountability! My love for the game goes beyond what I can ever explain!
When I play, it’s like poetry my eyes get watery, it’s an unexplainable feeling! Ppl have loved me for it, ppl have admired me, ppl whom I never knew loved my games and the love from fans was amazing. We grow as players being loved by many and we never know our impact… From a young age when we play basketball, we are taught to play, loving the game comes from within no one can make you Love it! We’re only trained to be good at it and if you’re really good the pressures run high and attention becomes greater! The amount of persistence we must obtain to be a player takes a toll on us. We can’t have a bad day, we can’t say weakness, there are ppl watching us, there are kids looking up to us, there are people counting on us! We become egotistical because if we don’t feel we’re someone we will lose our edge, we will become vulnerable as players, we will seem weak to opponents. It’s all a mind game and you must win everyone!
I have faced many challenges with my mental health. I was clinically diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar depression, and anxiety, I struggled with throughout my career/life. Struggling to accept my mental challenges in my career by trying to ignore the symptoms. I wasn’t always open to going to therapy, I tried to mask it with using other vices to cope. I later found therapy to be such a healing choice for my progression with my mental health.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Throughout my career I’ve dealt with obstacles, I wasn’t always comfortable with sharing. Losing my dad to suicide at such a young age and not understanding the impact it truly would have on me until I grew older. It was a huge challenge for me, leaving me angry with a lot of resentment. I always used basketball as an outlet to escape from those feelings, when I fractured my tibia it was really hard for me. I no longer had basketball as an outlet and it was extremely challenging for me.
Being a female athlete, who are often overlooked by society or told to “shut up and dribble” our voice is shielded. As a strong black woman who’s a professional athlete always told to play through any and everything even when it’s not the easiest. I speak for all women who feel their voices are being heard whether it’s dribbling a basketball or taking care of a family. On a daily, our mental health is challenged by always having to stay strong and remain stable. We go through many emotional challenges in life and as an athlete, we don’t take the time out to focus on these issues. Many of women, who have dealt with career-ending injuries, life transitions into society or even childbirth have reached out to me for using my voice. I use my voice to reach men, women and children who might not quite understand what they’re dealing with daily with their mental health. I use my story to make others comfortable enough to share their journey and to seek help through therapy.
My journey is never-ending and constantly challenging me fulfilled with a rollercoaster of emotions. Being diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety and Bi-Polar Depression, I chose to work on my inner self. Through my highs and lows, I learned more about myself, how to deal with my mental health and understanding happiness is a choice. My father committing suicide at the age of two caused a lot of pain and suffering, I always neglected. Having so many triggers and trauma throughout my life, I only had one choice to become better, THERAPY!
THERAPY played a pivotal part in educating and teaching me how to deal with so many emotions. I was unaware of how and why most of the time until I did the work. Not allowing my mental health to have a negative impact on my life. Continuing to work on myself on daily to more and more every day in a positive direction. I speak openly about my mental health hoping to encourage others to not be ashamed or embarrassed. I hope by purchasing from my brand, you will grow into loving yourself and protecting your mental health.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My business is a clothing brand I use to spread awareness about the importance of mental health care in our society. By providing mental health guidance for athletes who may be seeking help for mental care. Spreading this initiative plays an important part in our community for everyone who may overlook their mental health not just athletes. My number one priority bringing awareness to mental health for everyone to feel comfortable enough to seek help. With the suicide rate increasing, if people are aware of how to heal from their past or present traumas, it’ll be prevented.
As a child survivor of a parent who committed suicide, I was never granted the proper help or care to heal after his death. There are so many traumatizing things happening, many people aren’t being helped. Creating a resourceful platform for people seeking help, education, a safe space, and guidance for therapy. Working closely with a licensed therapist to provide mental health options for people who cannot afford therapy. As my business grows, I inspire to use a percentage of my clothing brand funds to aid and assist those in need of therapy who cannot afford those services. Creating my own nonprofit that’ll provide those services. Using my clothing brand to spread awareness through fashion making mental health a priority, starting my own campaign “Make therapy cool/therapy is cool”. Hoping it’ll influence consumers to take the initiative to prioritize focusing on mental health stability.
I created SlushPro to help players gain development the right way at a high level to advance the improvement of their game. Sharing my experience and knowledge of the game for the next generation of players to maximize their skill set.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My ability to be my authentic self, share my story with so many people to help them during their. I’ve been able to meet so many people and build so many relationships through the game I love. I value people more than anything in life and that has always been something I’ve been prideful about in life. I’m extremely charismatic and just a natural leader who truly enjoys helping people. I hope by sharing my journey, it’ll help so many other people overcome their challenges in life.
Pricing:
- $50-$125 training session
- $20-$75 Clothing Brand
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sykes24serenity.myshopify.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slush24/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkmoB8zh7bWvD5UwBHO9j2A
Image Credits
@taexjacobs
