Students enroll in City College for various reasons. For many it is an opportunity to earn an associate’s degree or certificate, or transfer to a university to earn a four-year degree.
Amateur boxer and communications major Julius Douglas says that his decision to enroll in City College was motivated by his aspiration to better his life and to compete in the Olympic Games as a member of the United States Men’s Boxing Team.
“I’m aiming for the Olympics,” said Douglas. “Right now I’m training every day to get better so that when I’m ready to go professional I’ll give it a shot.”
Growing up in Oak Park, a lower income neighborhood often plagued by drugs, gangs and crime, Douglas says he often found himself on the wrong side of the law.
As a youth, Douglas says he got into a lot of trouble, he was also known as an adept fighter, something he says ultimately led to his interest in boxing.
At the age of 17 Douglas’ life changed when he was incarcerated for his involvement in gang-related activity and weapons charges.
“I did four years in Folsom [State Prison] and Susanville [State Prison],” said Douglas. “Like most people I kind of thought it was going to be like in the movies, but everything was based on respect, politics, and race.”
While in prison, Douglas’ mother died from heart failure.
“I basically kind of shut down,” said Douglas.
According to Douglas, his mother’s death was extremely troubling for him, but it also marked a major turning point in his life at which he became motivated to better himself. Douglas says that after the unexpected loss of his mother, he began receiving guidance from one of the older inmates in regards to making a positive change in his life.
“I started reading, praying, and working out a lot more,” says Douglas. “I also started surrounding myself [with] positive people.”
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“I liked it a lot, plus I was able to meet new people and learn a lot more about the sport of boxing,” said Douglas.
Although he may have been a natural fighter, Douglas says that he did have several challenges to overcome.
“I had to overcome my fear of even coming to school, because it was something that I wasn’t really interested [in] and I didn’t think I would succeed,” said Douglas. “Also, you have to be really disciplined in order to be a boxer, especially watching what you put into your body.”
Douglas says while at City College he has gained many skills both in and out of the ring that have helped him become more disciplined and focused.
“I’m a much better listener than I used to be,” says Douglas. “When I was younger I didn’t think anyone could tell me anything, boxing has helped me.”
After completing the boxing class at City College Douglas decided he wanted to further his training as an amateur boxer and started working out at a boxing gym in Elk Grove.
“A good friend of mine took me into the gym one day,” says Douglas. “Now I’m training for my first amateur match.”
Douglas, who plans to transfer to Howard University in Washington D.C., will compete in his first amateur boxing match at Elk Grove High School May 3.
In addition to studying communications at City College and boxing, Douglas is also active in his community, volunteering as a basketball and football trainer for young athletes at Kid’s Sports Gym in Oak Park.
Douglas’ efforts to turn his life around can serve as inspiration to other City College students who may be in similar situations, according to City College Extended Opportunity Program and Services Student Personnel Assistant Kathleen Dorn, who has known Douglas since they met last year during a faculty and student mentor program where students and City College faculty played basketball games in the South Gym.
“I see this desire in Julius to want to lead a good life,” says Dorn. “There are a number of students that go down the wrong path for so many reasons. What made Julius so special is that he is an example of an individual going beyond their past and moving forward to an amazing future.”
