I'm Dominique Lawrence, and this is my story.
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First off, I thought I'd never be at Corban. Like, like when I actually did a little bit of time at Shamakada, and I played there for a couple years. And then I did a coaching stint and somebody actually brought up like, you know, "Would you be interested in Corban?" I'm like, "Bro, no, like not happening." It had to be a blessing. Because out of all of it, like, that's from what I've noticed, and that's how God works. He'll do it in a way that you'll least expect it, you know. It was a crazy journey, actually, to like, actually get to this point, because I thought I was done playing basketball. Three years ago was my last season, and I was just like, "Alright, I'm done. I'm gonna coach, I'm going to train kids, I'm going to ref kids." As I'm doing that, my wife, like I'm waking up going to like the park working out, training kids in the morning, and then go ref, and then come back, go to work at a gym and train kids. And my wife is like, "What are you gonna do with this? Like, you love this? Like, you're waking up in the morning to go play basketball outside? Like, in the summer in Las Vegas. Right? So what's the deal? Like, are you gonna do something?" and I was like, "I don't know." I just kind of talking to her and my little brother. I was kind of talking myself down at that point. My self talk as far as basketball was very low. But thanks to like that support system, having them, and then me, my wife just like prayed on it.
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And as far as getting to Corban specifically, I was watching. I was obsessed with this team last year. Like I watched every game online. And realize I'm like, "Corban is going to be good. I want to win. So I want to go there." It was essentially like the short of it. But after we prayed on it, let's ask God to let His will happen. It all just fell. It fell here.
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Oh, man, the first time Oh, my god, it was a rush, like I go in it's probably like, five minutes left in the half. And I'd go to the table. And I'm not the inbound the ball. And as soon as I come in, let it go. I'm like, yeah, look at him. You're like, do I do it? You look at everyone and do a little dance or something. But I was so hyped up. The first time, I had to really like, collect myself. Like, the first thing in my head was, "Thank God." Like, I say that every time I come in a game. But that experience was like, you know, like, I wasn't expecting it. Like I wasn't expecting like that genuine, like, for real love. I got goosebumps thinking about it right now. Like no lie, like I'm gonna tell my kids about that specific moment for the rest of my life.
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It's nothing but God and I try to make sure that I'm not leaving Him hanging. I'm holding up my end of the deal. And I'm doing what He's called me to do. It's bigger than me. It's bigger than this team. You know, this community genuinely cares. No matter where I go, there He is. Like, no matter where I'm at, like, His name is going to come up. No matter how intense practice or the games get, Coach makes sure you're good, you know, no matter what's going on.
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But my studies, our professors pray over us. I really love the professor's. Here, it just seems a bit more personal. They got a dog in the fight. They actually care how well we're doing on the test. Like I had a teacher who told me, "Thank you for doing well on the test." Because it mattered to him. And other than that His people. Like, the community is actually community. It's not just like, we're all here because we have to be. Because nobody's here on accident. Everybody's here like a divine plan. Like you're here for a reason. And I believe it. I believe that before I came and once He said that, it kind of just like sealed the deal for me.
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But everybody's here for a reason, and we all cross paths, it's always love. It's just like, that's probably my favorite part. Like I can walk around campus with my head up, a smile, see people who genuinely care how my day is going, and that you can't replace that kind of stuff. So those three things. The Lord's everywhere, professors are in the fight with you, and mad love everywhere I go.
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The university itself is about what they say they're about. They're genuinely trying to teach the young Christians about making a difference for Jesus Christ. And it's a difference maker. No doubt. Definitely a difference maker for anyone on any part of their walk. I think that's what the school offers the most.