In today’s episode of This Hits Different, Shelby Cassesse tells inspirational the story of Redbank Valley football player Marquese Gardlock, who overcame homelessness at an early age to star on the football field and earn a college scholarship.
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From homeless at birth to a college football roster
Marquese Gardlock just graduated from Rebank Valley, headed to Cal U to play football and study to be a teacher. But even three years ago, the future didn't seem so bright.
“Even thinking about it, it kind of gets you teary eyed,” Gardlock said. “No kid should ever have to grow up the way I did. I’m not saying I grew up the worst, but (we saw) things we weren’t supposed to see.”
It's was an uphill battle from the start. Homeless at birth, using the stove at four years old to feed himself and his brothers, mourning the loss of close family and watching his biggest role models make bad decisions.
By the time he started at Sharon High School, Gardlock was getting suspended, failing his classes, and making some of those same poor choices.
“Growing up with not a lot of good role models to look at, and a lot of people who want to see you do good… they just want to bring you down,” he said. “So being around that, and seeing a lot of deaths, I went through a lot of things I shouldn’t have.”
Desperate to get his son a fresh start, Gardlock’s dad sent him to live with family in New Bethlehem, a decision that changed the course of Gardlock’s life. At first, however, he was forced to adjust to being away from his dad, a year of sitting out of basketball, and a new school where he was one of only a few Black students.
“At first, I was a little hesitant,” he said. “I didn’t really talk to a lot of people. Once I started getting used to the feel, a lot of people started taking me in and embraced me. That’s when I got a little comfortable and started opening up.”
One of those people was Redbank head football coach Blane Gold. Though Gardlock’s was all basketball at the time, Gold saw athleticism that could help his team too.
With his cousin Chris, he decided to play.
“Just the love and support that the players and coaches showed me, they actually showed that they wanted me,” Gardlock said. “I‘d never really felt that.”
Gold admits it didn't get off to the best start.
“He kind of took some badgering and Marquese even jokes that he almost quit after the first week because it was a little more conditioning and running than he was used to,” Gold says. “But obviously we’re all pretty happy that he stuck it out.”
But soon, Gardlock began to commit. That coupled with sheer talent put him in the spotlight. Led by Gardlock and Chris, the little school from New Bethlehem went to the PIAA championship game. For Gardlock, it was clicking everywhere else too. His grades were nearly perfect, colleges came calling, he was becoming the role model to others that he desperately needed just a few years prior.
“It means that I can’t mess up and I’ve just got to keep being the person that I am,” he said. “That’s the person that they look up to, so I can’t change.”
Gold began to see how much Gardlock’s story was inspiring others, and suggested he write about it as part of a scholarship application. He said Gardlock had a tough time putting thoughts to paper at first..
“If you’re willing to put your story into words, you’re a perfect candidate for this, because you’re the definition of a person that’s gone through struggles,” Gold said. “But you haven’t let those struggles get your down. And you continue to smile.”
Not only did Gardlock get the scholarship, Blane says a donor was so inspired by the essay, he donated more money to the organization, leading to more scholarship money for Gardlock and some of his classmates.
“Just his willingness to talk about his story and talk about some of the struggles of his past, he’s using those struggles to positively impact the lives of other people,” Gold said.
Now much more confident in himself, much more comfortable with his past, Gardlock moves on to another new beginning, knowing full well it's not always how you start, but how you finish.
“Always look at the best things you can do, or look at the good things that can come out of that situation,” he said. “For me, going through the situations I am, I used to, as a kid, I feel like made me the man I am today.
“The made me always have a smile on my face and always appreciative of everything I get.”
Photo Credit: Sean Simmers