Meet Adonis Watt in Ahwatukee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adonis Watt.

Adonis, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a 14-year-old Brophy College Preparatory Freshman in Phoenix Arizona.  I have a rare type of glaucoma that made me lose my sight almost instantaneously, by age five. My Mom was teaching me how to swim and after I came up from under water I told her I couldn’t see. Before losing my vision, I played football in the neighborhood often and my parents signed me up for community football.  

After my diagnosis my Mom was afraid of me being tackled and taking hits. I began fundraising for the FBC at a young age and one year after losing my eyesight at the age of six, I was invited to meet President Obama to celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I believe I am a voice for the youth because of all the things I’ve done and I’m going to do. After several surgeries, my family came to the realization I was probably going to remain blind, but this didn’t lessen my spirits.

Eventually, I convinced her and my Dad that I was going to be alright. But she still didn’t believe me and signed me up for Flag football. After 2 years of constant nagging my entire family signed me up for tackle football with my older brother Jordan as an Assistant Coach… there to watch my every move.

Aided by the coaching of my older brother Jordan and motivated by my competitive spirit, I have played football for the last ten years, eight of which have been blind. Today, my brother Jordan is an Outside Linebacker in Nebraska at Chadron State College. I’m thankful that he helped me get back to tackle football when he did. I have the support of my family and I have shown my family that I can do whatever I set my mind to. I’m hoping to go to a Division 1 College on a football scholarship and have the opportunity to play in the NFL.

When my parents took me out of public school kindergarten and enrolled me into the Foundation for Blind Children my parents encouraged me to learn braille right away. Since I had no impairments other than my sight, my teachers recommended I enter a mainstream school later that year in the first grade. My mom didn’t want me to go to public school because she was afraid I would be bullied. Even though my Mom was nervous about the possibility of me struggling or being bullied, I transitioned right in. 

When I’m on the field I trust my instincts. I practice my plays until I know exactly what I’m supposed to do. I also trust my linemen and look for a hole to run through. I never play scared because that’s how you get injured. My quarterback gets the signal from the Coach to tell me what the play is. I know all the plays by memory. I don’t care if defenders are trying to strip the ball from me. I’m a football player and that’s what they’re supposed to do.

From a very young age confidence was instilled in me by my older brother Jordan. Earlier this season, I scored two touchdowns during a high school football game, where the other team wasn’t told that they were playing against a team with a blind player. By the end of my Freshman football season, I scored three touchdowns.

As the news spread across the community and more people learned about my spirit, they became interested in my talent. Recent coverage about my story even brought the attention of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, who congratulated me on a LinkedIn post. My parents Marvin and Veronica say “I want you to serve as inspiration for others” My family says “If you have a child, give them the opportunity to show you what they can do”. As parents, they wanted to overprotect me, but that would have limited me and taken my independence. I hope that those kids we never hear from see my story and get motivated to follow their own talents. Hopefully, their talents can transfer into a successful career they are passionate about.

I’ve been in the paper and in the media frequently as a student-athlete and an advocate for independence in the blind community.This year, November 2018, I sailed with a crew of 11 other blind children to the Spanish Virgin Islands off the coast of Puerto Rico. The idea was to raise funds for the Foundation for Blind Children of Phoenix, and bring community awareness as well as hope to other blind children. I have plans to continue leading my life by example to others in both sighted and blind communities.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Convincing my family that I was ready to return to tackle football as a Runningback was a challenge. But I just kept bugging them every year until they gave me a chance.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
What sets me apart from others is that I never let anyone tell me what I can’t do or achieve. Right now I’m focused on Wrestling at Brophy College Preparatory. I’m also focused on helping my 10 year old little Sister Sanaa become a role model.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck hasn’t played a big role in my life because I have to work hard for every yard. I train with my Personal Trainer Marc Vines-bright at Lifetime Fitness every week. Marc understands that I’m trying to change my life, and along the way I am changing the lives of others. That is why I think Marc pushes me so hard to try new things and ways to challenge myself physically and mentally. My mantra is “Just do you”.

Contact Info:

• Email: vwwlginc@gmail.com
• Facebook: Veronica Fit on Facebook

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.