William Patterson wants to be a man worth listening to. A motivational speaker with a track scholarship waiting at the University of Detroit Mercy, he is building himself first, on faith, confidence, and the belief that the right relationships can carry you further than talent alone.
Who are you, and what are you building right now?
"My name is William Patterson. I am building myself into a man worth acknowledging and listening to, striving to inspire others to become the best version of themselves and, above all, encouraging people to build a relationship with God and give Him the glory in everything they do."
What was the moment you decided to actually go for it?
"I would say that in 7th grade, during 2020, the COVID year, I started to think differently. I wanted to become more confident, feel better about myself physically and mentally, and grow my relationship with God, because I felt like I didn't have a strong foundation of faith within myself."
"Life is all about relationships, connections, and networking."
What does Metro Detroit mean to your work?
"Metro Detroit means opportunity to me. It gives me the chance to connect with others and build genuine relationships. The more people you know and the stronger the connections you build, the further you can go. Life is all about relationships, connections, and networking, and I believe Metro Detroit is the perfect place for that."
What's something people your age get wrong about what you do?
"When people meet me and get to know me, they sometimes think I'm playing a character. But everyone has different layers to their personality depending on who they're around and how comfortable they feel. Everyone deserves respect from the start. We may have different beliefs and ways of communicating, but at the end of the day, we're all human."
"We all have 24 hours. It's all about what you choose to do with them."
What's next? What does the near future look like for you?
"I'll be attending the University of Detroit Mercy this fall on a track scholarship, majoring in Finance and hopefully minoring in Digital Marketing. I try to focus on what I can do each day to prepare for the journey ahead. We all have 24 hours. It's all about what you choose to do with them."
