BLOOMINGDALE — Teens facing personal struggles should never give up hope and know they can overcome adversity.

That was the message shared with Jefferson County Joint Vocational School students when motivational speaker Austin Lanier visited the campus on Nov. 26. Lanier told how he emerged from a youth riddled with darkness and anxiety and built a positive life for himself. The Norfolk, Va., native said he was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and was forced to take medication to control his condition. It was an experience which left him angry and depressed, and he found himself on a long quest of self-discovery.

“I thought I was unloved. I did not love myself and I felt insecure about myself,” Lanier added. “I would try to earn people’s love and thought I’d feel fulfilled.”

He continued that he faced an identity crisis and would move from school to school. Lanier became involved in sports, and for a time that did offer some motivation. He joined a soccer team in sixth grade even though he was not a great player, but with time and practice he eventually improved. Lanier said he joined a travel team and was flown to England, and he was convinced he could play professional world soccer. He was the youngest player on his high school varsity team and became a popular athlete, but the negative thoughts of self-doubt still percolated within.

“Behind the scenes, there was a lot of stuff going on. I really looked up to the older kids and they led me down the wrong path.”

Lanier fell into addiction, was drinking, smoking and skipping school while his grades plummeted. He was forced to take online classes during his senior year in order to graduate. He fell into peer pressure and continued to make bad choices, all of which impacted his teen years. Following the death of his beloved grandmother and other family woes, he came to the realization that he needed to turn his life around.

“I was feeling so hopeless and hit a low point, then someone stepped into my life and told me I had a purpose,” he added. “I hope each and every one of you knows you are loved. You might be dealing with anxiety and self-hatred…, [but] everyone is made uniquely different. I had to embrace and love myself. My challenge to you is to look in the mirror and forget all the lies people tell you and fall in love with what you see.”

Lanier told them to not compare themselves to others, to those on social media who may not be representing their true selves for the sake of likes and followers.

“The more you compare yourself to someone, the more you will hate what you see. Don’t be fooled by people on TikTok or Instagram. You have to love who you see in the mirror, but you also have to love others.”

Of the many tattoos Lanier gained, the most significant are the initials of three friends he wears on his wrist as a reminder of people who, unlike him, took a more serious path. He recalled how they each went through severe hardships that he was not aware of and chose to end their lives. Lanier said he wished he knew how they suffered so he could support them, but he noted he would not change anything about his own life because it led him to become the person he is today.

He challenged the students to use what they’ve gone through to help inspire others. Lanier also shared three steps to reach their goals: Write down your dreams and be specific with the details; separate yourself from the wrong people; and surround yourself with healthy friends and mentors.

“It’s so important to love everyone around you. You can be that friend with a smile and those small steps can help someone,” he noted. “You really experience a fullness to life.”

He then questioned students on their future aspirations, and some said they wanted to be psychologists, restaurant owners, go into childcare, operate a bakery and become a music therapist. Lanier himself took steps and moved halfway across the country to Austin, Texas, where he worked to save money and created a mixtape in his hopes of becoming a rapper. His dream has grown to performing for thousands at a Texas university, appearing on a Netflix show, creating an album available on iTunes and Spotify and working in the same circles as Ludacris and Gucci Mane.

He also the country as a motivational speaker and shares his message and music. Lanier closed with a performance of his original work, “Within,” and met with students following his program. He can be found on social media as @atrainlanier.