Kwity Paye was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He has one of the most incredible & inspiring stories I have ever heard.
Spoiler Alert: His mom is the real MVP.
Time for a thread 👇👇 👇
He has one of the most incredible & inspiring stories I have ever heard.
Spoiler Alert: His mom is the real MVP.
Time for a thread 👇👇 👇
1) First, some history.
Kwity Paye's mom was just 12 years old when a civil war broke out in her home country of Liberia.
Rival tribes would show up in the middle of the night, light houses on fire & kill people when they ran outside.
Over 250k people died, including her dad.
Kwity Paye's mom was just 12 years old when a civil war broke out in her home country of Liberia.
Rival tribes would show up in the middle of the night, light houses on fire & kill people when they ran outside.
Over 250k people died, including her dad.
2) With their village destroyed, Kwity Paye's mom, dad, and older brother fled to a refugee camp in Guinea.
That's where @OfficialKwity was born, but just 5 months later, the family immigrated to the United States.
The unfortunate part?
Kwity's dad wasn't allowed to come.
That's where @OfficialKwity was born, but just 5 months later, the family immigrated to the United States.
The unfortunate part?
Kwity's dad wasn't allowed to come.
3) The Paye family settled down in Providence, Rhode Island.
They had no money, didn't speak English, couldn't read or write, and shared a small one-bedroom apartment.
Knowing they couldn't survive without English, Kwity's mom went to school while working multiple jobs.
They had no money, didn't speak English, couldn't read or write, and shared a small one-bedroom apartment.
Knowing they couldn't survive without English, Kwity's mom went to school while working multiple jobs.
4) With their mom gone all day working multiple jobs & trying to learn English, Kwity & his brother Komotay turned to sports.
They played flag football at the Boys & Girls Club, falling in love with the game.
Kwity had obvious talent.
But with success came a massive decision.
They played flag football at the Boys & Girls Club, falling in love with the game.
Kwity had obvious talent.
But with success came a massive decision.
5) For High School, Kwity Paye had two options.
He could attend a local public school, or Bishop Hendricken, one of the top private schools in the country.
The only problem?
Public school was free, while Bishop Hendricken cost $10,000 annually.
His mom didn't have the money.
He could attend a local public school, or Bishop Hendricken, one of the top private schools in the country.
The only problem?
Public school was free, while Bishop Hendricken cost $10,000 annually.
His mom didn't have the money.
6) Too young to understand the gravity of their financial struggles, Kwity Paye begged his mom with one promise:
"If I go to Bishop Hendricken, you won't have to pay for college."
He was just 12-years-old at the time.
Knowing it was his best chance at success, his mom agreed.
"If I go to Bishop Hendricken, you won't have to pay for college."
He was just 12-years-old at the time.
Knowing it was his best chance at success, his mom agreed.
7) From 2012 to 2016, Kwity Paye dominated at Bishop Hendricken — both on and off the field.
He finished with a 4.0 GPA and was the best football player in the state.
As for his mom, she didn't get to attend a single game.
She worked from 7am to 11pm every day to pay for it.
He finished with a 4.0 GPA and was the best football player in the state.
As for his mom, she didn't get to attend a single game.
She worked from 7am to 11pm every day to pay for it.
8) When his promise came true on national signing day, Kwity Paye got emotional.
"I do all of this for her, so one day she will never have to lift a finger again."
He cried, his mom cried & the entire room gave a standing ovation.
Kwity was off to Michigan...on scholarship.
"I do all of this for her, so one day she will never have to lift a finger again."
He cried, his mom cried & the entire room gave a standing ovation.
Kwity was off to Michigan...on scholarship.
9) Now, just 4 years removed from that emotional day, Kwity Paye has fulfilled his second promise.
After a standout career at Michigan, @OfficialKwity was selected by the Colts in the 1st round of the NFL draft.
The best part?
Just watch this. It's incredible.
After a standout career at Michigan, @OfficialKwity was selected by the Colts in the 1st round of the NFL draft.
The best part?
Just watch this. It's incredible.
10) In the end, I love this story for one simple reason.
Kwity Paye's mom made unbelievable sacrifices to put him in a position to be successful.
He made promises, worked his ass off to fulfill them, and ended up changing his family's life forever.
Now that's amazing.
Kwity Paye's mom made unbelievable sacrifices to put him in a position to be successful.
He made promises, worked his ass off to fulfill them, and ended up changing his family's life forever.
Now that's amazing.
11) If you enjoyed this thread, make sure to follow me @JoePompliano.
I tweet interesting sports stories like this every day.
I tweet interesting sports stories like this every day.
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Don't worry, It's free :)
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