Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Pack.
Chad, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born on a Blue Moon. My mother said she walked through a snowstorm to give birth to me. This happened in Rochester, New York. My older brothers all say that I was the meanest baby they’d ever met. I guess I was so mean that my mother would put me up for adoption at nine months. I bounced around from a few families until I was five. “My forever family.” Can’t say it was the greatest experience being a child, I was diagnosed with ADHD and Anxiety Disorder. Yet, my mother never let it be an excuse for me. I was a brilliant child. I would ace tests, win spelling bees, help other kids pass their tests, and I would always get picked for group projects. Somehow, I still failed a lot. Homework and note taking were my weaknesses. That, and failing at trying to fit in with other kids. I liked drawing and writing stories. I could build crazy inventions with K’nex and rubber bands. I built a computer when I was 13. I could care less about impressing my peers. At an early age, I had a strong concept of identity, I was a nobody. I got picked on for looking white and black, respectively. I didn’t fit in at home nor at school.
So this vicious cycle continued from moving to Stone Mountain in 2000 and then to Greensboro, NC in 2007. Two middle schools, and three high schools. Even though I aced the test for early college enrollment, my mother moved us away from Georgia. My entire high school credit history was reduced to zero. I graduated while doing double the classes to catch up. My mom got me a life insurance policy and took me to China Buffet. My best friend at the time got a new car. We got into an accident in that car, and that life insurance policy was starting to shine a little bit. So I got into college after a year of working, but I didn’t finish. For some reason none of the information felt new to me, some projects I engaged in but most of the work felt redundant. I was teaching other students. I just stopped showing up.
I suffer from a lack of motivation. Serotonin and Dopamine production are limited, overproduced, or not present at all in an ADHD brain. I can’t reward myself for a good job. I could never be a guy in a leather suit on my knees like a dog. Praises and compliments feel like nothing. Before moving to Georgia, my mom married a man named Dale. I did not like Dale. I felt he was taking the little misguided love and attention I had with my mom away. After quitting college, he became horribly ill. For the past few years, he had developed Alzheimer’s and Diabetes. He was now suffering from kidney stones. My mom had to go out of town due to a death in the family and asked me to come home and take care of Dale. I did. For two weeks, I clothed him, bathed him, wiped him, fed him, watched TV with him, and put him to bed. The nurse who was visiting was shocked because I fed him so well that he didn’t need a single insulin injection the entire time. Sometime before my mom came home, Dale asked me to go find a black book on his dresser. In it, there were articles and medals from his times running track in high school. He was the fastest man in the state of Michigan at one point. He told me that I should always try my best and don’t let life get to you. Don’t end up like him.
Dale recovered from that, but he was so much smaller than he was before. We moved back to Georgia in 2012. I began work as a courier, riding bikes and rolling my eyes at all the Jimmy Johns jokes. Dale passed away in his sleep in 2014. The same week my girlfriend at the time told me she was pregnant. The same week my friend from middle school was shot along with another person who died. Two weeks later, he died. Life was very difficult at that time. My kid’s mom went mental, cursing the birth of our son. Harassing me and my friends on social media. Sending death threats to my mom. She ended up surrendering her rights. I now share custody with my mom. Around this time I decide I want to make a comic book that embodies my emotional frustrations and struggles.
Around the time my son Chandler reaches 3, I began meeting new friends and learning fixed gear culture. I get into alley-cat racing and I’m actually really good at it. I won a race and made a few hard 2nd places. I begin branching out and looking for more higher-paying jobs as to support myself and my son. I juggle being a freelance graphic designer and whatever manual labor job I can find. From there, I’ve tried dating women here and there. It fails. Slowly giving up on that project.
I now currently am certified for velodrome track racing. I have a brand of clothing with biker specific designs. I work for a non-profit that repairs donated bikes and gives them to children. I’m working up the courage to try stand-up comedy. I plan to open my own bike shop in the city. My comic will have pages drawn soon. I turn 31 next month and my son turns 8. Our birthdays are a week apart. I’m learning to love myself and share that love with others.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love making art in its various forms. Pen and paper. Paint and canvas. Ketchup and a shirt. Fish and Chips. I’ve become a really nice ink illustrator. I’ve done my own tattoos. I design logos and clothing. I believe what my style incorporates is a feeling of provocation. Everything about me feels unorthodox. My art even surprises me and I love that.
How do you define success?
Attitude. I believe success has already happened for me through my desire. My job is to believe that and move towards it. Like crossing off days on a calendar.
Pricing:
- Logos – $100
- Cycling Jerseys – $100
- Hoodies Coming Soon – $30
- Bike Repairs – Negotiable
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @slimmreaper @ninjaartstyle @cerberuscyclingclub
